Chinese team discovers 11,700 new viruses in Pacific seabed metal deposit

A Chinese research team has identified 11,700 novel virus species in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, the world's largest seabed metal deposit, at depths up to 6,000 meters. The discovery expands knowledge of deep-sea viral diversity and may inform ecological impact assessments for future deep-sea mining. The finding is preliminary and based on genetic analysis, with implications for understanding microbial ecosystems in extreme environments.