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.
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.
NOAA Scientists and Partners to Map Deep Waters, Seabed in the Cook Islands
NOAA will map the deep Cook Islands seabed this summer. Okeanos Explorer sails with the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority.
NOAA Releases First Images of Nodules from Waters Near American Samoa
NOAA has published its first nodule images from American Samoa. Samples came from the 2026 mapping of federal waters there.
NOAA Ship to Map Potential Critical Mineral Deposits in U.S. Waters of Pacific Ocean
NOAA Ship Rainier will map minerals off Kingman and Palmyra. The survey covers more than 8,000 square nautical miles.
NOAA Accelerates Permitting Timeline for Deep Seabed Mining Applications
NOAA has cut the timeline for deep seabed mining applications. The final rule streamlines exploration licences and recovery permits.
NOAA-Led Ocean Mapping Expedition in Cook Islands Hailed as a Resounding Success
A NOAA-led expedition mapped the Cook Islands' seabed in October. Three weeks aboard E/V Nautilus covered the nodule-rich zone.
New Autonomous Vehicle Helps Advance Understanding of the Deep Ocean and Its Critical Minerals
A new autonomous vehicle went looking for critical minerals. Orpheus flew metres above the seafloor on an OECI expedition.