Make Me Smart Deep-sea mining: The next frontier for critical minerals
Dec 9, 2025
In this intriguing discussion, Daniel Ackerman, a deep-sea mining reporter and creator of the Seabed Spotlight newsletter, unpacks the allure of the ocean floor as companies seek rare-earth minerals. He explains how polymetallic nodules, rich in metals, form over millions of years. Daniel also examines the technological, legal, and environmental controversies surrounding mining in international waters, as well as the geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China. Tune in for insights into the future of this controversial frontier!
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Unusual Origin Of Rich Nodule Deposits
- Deep-sea nodules form on the seabed by metal molecules accumulating around organic debris over millions of years.
- The U.S. Geological Survey estimates some nodule fields contain more nickel, cobalt, and manganese than known land reserves.
Shark Tooth Sparks A Nodule
- Daniel Ackerman describes a shark tooth falling to the seabed that sparks nodule growth over millions of years.
- That organic nucleus gradually accumulates metal layers and becomes a potato-sized polymetallic nodule.
Market Forces Revived Deep-Sea Mining Interest
- Interest in deep-sea mining waned after a metals price crash in the 1980s and resurged with global electrification demands.
- Growing battery needs for electrification renewed focus on seabed metals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese.