The newspaper "El Periodico de España" has reported that an underwater mountain, located at a depth of 4,000 meters, is rich in minerals and is being contested by Spain and Morocco. This mountain extends beneath the territorial waters of the Canary Islands, which enjoy autonomous governance under Spanish sovereignty. The mountain, from the Cretaceous period, contains mineral concentrations 50,000 times greater than any land site.
The formation of the mountain is linked to the geological processes that shaped the Canary Islands millions of years ago. The eight islands that comprise the Canary archipelago arose from continuous underwater volcanic eruptions in the Atlantic Ocean, creating a multitude of geographical features in the area, including seamounts. This mountain is named the Tropic Seamount, and its extensive area stretches southwest of the Canary Islands, north of Cape Verde, and west of Western Sahara.
The Tropic Seamount lies between depths of 1,000 and 4,000 meters, with its peak reaching 970 meters and an area of 120 square kilometers at the top. Its significance lies in the large quantities of important industrial raw materials such as tellurium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. The European Union regards this mountain as a strategic reserve due to its tellurium concentration being 50,000 times higher than any land deposits.
The combination of its geographical location and material wealth has led to a conflict between Morocco and Spain, both claiming sovereignty over the area and the exploitation of its mineral resources. Spain is Morocco's main trading partner, and they collaborate on issues including immigration, combating extremism, and energy.
