Marketplace All-in-One Companies are betting on deep sea mining for critical minerals
Jun 10, 2025
The global market for critical minerals is projected to skyrocket, driven by the demand for an electrified future. With China dominating supply, the U.S. is exploring deep-sea mining as an alternative source. Innovative technology is being developed, including a remote-controlled vehicle designed to harvest mineral-rich nodules from the ocean floor. However, this new industry faces controversy over environmental impacts and regulatory challenges, leaving many to ponder the balance between resource acquisition and ecological integrity.
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Ocean Floor's Rich Mineral Deposits
- Polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor hold more nickel, cobalt, and manganese than all land-based reserves combined.\n- This vast resource could be critical for the electrified future's demand for critical minerals.
Vacuuming Nodules from Ocean Floor
- The Metals Company plans to use a remote-controlled vehicle like a giant vacuum to collect ocean nodules.\n- This vehicle will vacuum nodules and pump them up a miles-long pipe to a ship at the surface.
U.S. Challenges Global Deep-Sea Mining Rules
- The U.S. is not part of the International Seabed Authority that regulates deep sea mining on high seas.\n- President Trump asserted U.S. rights to grant mining permits independently, potentially bypassing global agreements.