Deep-sea mud trial extraction to begin in 2026
Japan is set to launch test mining of a unique deposit of rare earth element (REE)-rich deposits in an area off the Minami-Torishima Island (Marcus Island) in the Pacific Ocean,…
Seabed Minerals
American company eyes seabed mineral opportunities in Norway
“Earlier in my career, I have had the privilege of working in Norway, which is a leading example of how industry, trade, and the public and private sectors collaborate. And…
World’s first deep-sea mineral reserves declared
The metals Company’s (TMC) August release marks a milestone in its history, as well as for the global marine minerals industry. The technical summary of the pre-feasibility study (PFS) for…
The ambivalent position some European countries find themselves in when it comes to seabed mineral extraction
When the convention of the sea was adopted in 1994, the newly formed International Seabed Authority (ISA) started to award licences for the exploration of seabed minerals. Now, in 2025,…
American Samoa offshore minerals planning advances
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed Area Identification offshore American Samoa, marking the first time US waters have reached this stage in the federal seabed minerals…
Crushing report on TMC’s deep-sea mining plans
“We believe the economics of TMC’s operations are not viable and that the company will be a repeat of Nautilus. We expect Gerard Barron to leave the ship when this…
Despite putting the brakes on seabed mineral licensing, the Norwegian government continues to spend ever-increasing amounts on seabed mapping
“We have been busy,” confirmed Hilde Braut, Deputy Director for New Industries at the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD), when she gave a lecture at the Deep Sea Minerals 2025 conference…
A pragmatic approach to seabed mining
“I do obviously worry about the ecosystems down at the seafloor,” says biologist Annemiek Vink from the Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR) in Hannover when we meet on Teams.…
Technology is always missing in the debate about seabed mineral extraction
“If you talk to organisations opposing seabed mineral extraction,” says Annemiek Vink, “they all speak about the terrible environmental damage that this will cause. But none of them relate this…
A new seabed minerals frontier emerges
American Samoa is emerging as a new potential frontier for seabed minerals, joining global players like Japan, India, and Norway in the race to commence seafloor mineral extraction. In April,…
The world’s largest SMS deposits
Researchers have identified several mounds on the seafloor at approximately 13° N along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is at a latitude similar to that of Senegal. These mounds represent the…
How spreading rates determine your exploration strategy
Mapped sediment thicknesses at two segments along the Mohns Ridge. Sediment thickness serves as an indicator of the age of the underlying lava flows. Illustration: Stubseid et al. 2024, Nature…