American Metal has been established with a clear mission: to source metals from the seabed for exclusive use in the United States. At a time when the demand for critical minerals is soaring, the company aims to help secure U.S. mineral independence and strengthen its position as a global leader in advanced technologies.
The leadership team at American Metal brings more than two decades of experience at the forefront of the deep sea mineral industry. Their track record includes creating and leading companies that have set benchmarks in deep sea mineral exploration and environmental studies. This expertise, coupled with firsthand experience from U.S.-led polymetallic nodule exploration in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) during the 1970s, positions American Metal to play a transformative role in the industry.
American Metal’s founders have a history of pioneering ventures that have reshaped the modern-day commercial polymetallic nodule sector. Among their achievements:
- Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI): Founded in 2008, NORI was the first private company to secure an exploration license for polymetallic nodules from the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
- DeepGreen Resources Inc.: Established in 2011, DeepGreen evolved into TMC The Metals Company, now a Nasdaq-listed world leader in deep sea minerals.
At the helm of American Metal is David Heydon, Founder and Chairman, widely regarded as the pioneer of the modern deep sea mining industry. Heydon founded Nautilus Minerals Inc., the first company to develop a seafloor copper-gold mine at a depth of 1,700 meters. During his tenure, he attracted investments from major players including Placer Dome (now Barrick Gold), Teck Resources, and Anglo American, and raised over US$334 million to fund seafloor polymetallic sulphide development.
In 2011, together with American Metal’s current CEO, Heydon co-founded DeepGreen Resources Inc., driving it to become a global leader in deep sea minerals before it went public as TMC The Metals Company in 2021.
Heydon’s contributions have been recognized with the Moore Medal for advancing scientific knowledge of marine minerals. Beyond his corporate achievements, he has devoted the last eight years to polar exploration, taking scientists and passengers to remote regions of the Arctic and Antarctica to document environmental changes. In 2024, he led an expedition with 20 international scientists to the North Pole of Inaccessibility — the first team ever to reach this remote point — collecting vital data from one of the least explored parts of the Arctic.
Learn more at: https://www.american.inc/
