A Case Study for Radon as a Tracer of Seabed Minerals
Radon may be the tracer that finds seabed mineral deposits. USGS scientists are testing it off American Samoa this year.
NOAA Advances Review of First-Ever Deep Seabed Mining Commercial Recovery Application
TMC's commercial recovery application is now in public comment. NOAA found it fully compliant with the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act.
MMA Advances Potential Minerals Lease Sale Off Northern Mariana Islands
A minerals lease sale is proposed off the Northern Mariana Islands. The governor has to October 19, and the sale is set for December 16.
What Are Marine Critical Minerals?
Marine critical minerals are the metals lying on the ocean floor. NOAA sets out what they are and where the deposits form.
Marine Critical Minerals in the Cook Islands: A Preliminary Look
The Cook Islands seafloor is carpeted in polymetallic nodules. NOAA's preliminary look reports dense fields inside the country's waters.
Korean and Japanese Law of the Sea Scholars Discuss the Future of Ocean Law in Busan
Korean and Japanese scholars met on the future of ocean law. Straits passage and deep-seabed minerals were the two questions.
Giant Polymetallic Nodule
During the IOM-2024 expedition, researchers recovered what is likely the largest polymetallic nodule found in the IOM exploration area.
The 86th Meeting of the IOM Council
IOM's 86th Council met in Szczecin from 18 to 22 May 2026, covering the 2027 budget, the ISA contract extension and seabed law.
A mid-ocean ridge revealed by 3D magnetic modeling: New geologic map of Escanaba Trough
USGS and partners map Escanaba Trough in 3D, revealing the magma plumbing behind its seafloor massive sulfide deposits.
MMA Drives Next Step in America’s Offshore Critical Mineral Strategy
The Marine Minerals Administration issued a Proposed Leasing Notice for an American Samoa offshore critical minerals lease sale.