Question

question: which of these is a source of minerals that does not damage the sea floor? answer options: select one of four fracking oil rig deepwater drilling polymetallic nodules

Explanation:

Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) is for extracting oil/gas from rock, not marine minerals, and can harm land ecosystems. Oil rigs and deepwater drilling target oil/gas, involve sea - floor operations that can damage it (e.g., physical disturbance, pollution). Polymetallic nodules are mineral deposits on the deep - sea floor. Harvesting them can be done with less sea - floor damage compared to the other options (though there are still environmental concerns, but relatively, they are a mineral source with less direct sea - floor damage among these choices).

Answer:

D. Polymetallic nodules