The Pacific island nation has notified a United Nations body of plans to start deep-sea mining, giving the International Seabed Authority two years to complete long-running talks on rules governing the new and controversial industry.

Silver is one of the most versatile metals on Earth, with a unique combination of uses both as a precious and industrial metal.

The centre will be a catalyst to aid focus on the development of the green economy in Australia, in relation to export commodities and the significant potential for low carbon regional development and job creation.

A team of scientists have taken a closer look at the potential environmental hazards of tailings and found the risks greater than previously thought.

The website contains the world’s largest dataset of minerals such cobalt, lithium and rare earth elements.