U.S. Geological Survey onOctober 1, 2026 A previously undocumented process of hydrothermal manganese mineralization USGS finds a new way manganese deposits form under the seabed. Samples off American Samoa averaged 51% manganese by weight.
U.S. Geological Survey onJuly 22, 2026 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.
U.S. Geological Survey onJune 17, 2026 USGS Releases Expedition Report for Samoa Basin Box Coring Effort USGS box cores from the Samoa Basin measured nodule density at 36 sites to inform prospectivity analyses with NOAA and BOEM.
U.S. Geological Survey onDecember 3, 2025 Expedition Recap – Hawaiʻi Abyssal Nodules and Associated Ecosystems The USGS-led abyssal expedition south of Hawaii Island found no manganese nodules, an unexpected result for a modeled nodule region.
U.S. Geological Survey onJuly 3, 2025 Exploring Critical Minerals and Volcanic Processes in Aleutian Rocks USGS is sampling Aleutian Arc seafloor rocks to find settings favorable for critical mineral formation.
U.S. Geological Survey onJuly 3, 2025 Detecting Hydrothermal Vents and Collecting Environmental DNA: Investigating the Water Column in the Aleutian Arc CTD casts on the USGS Aleutian Arc expedition are hunting hydrothermal plumes and collecting environmental DNA.
U.S. Geological Survey onJune 26, 2025 Investigating Potential Seabed Minerals in the Aleutian Arc USGS is searching the Aleutian Arc for hydrothermal venting and the seafloor massive sulfides that can form around it.
U.S. Geological Survey onJune 25, 2025 USGS Seafloor Mapping Provides the Scientific Foundation Needed to Address National Priorities USGS sets out how its seafloor mapping underpins hazard forecasting, offshore energy and the search for critical minerals.
U.S. Geological Survey onJune 18, 2025 Connecting Communities to Ocean Exploration: Outreach from the Aleutian Arc Expedition Before sailing, the USGS Aleutian Arc seabed minerals team ran community events in Unalaska with BOEM, NOAA and the Smithsonian.
U.S. Geological Survey onMay 22, 2025 Hawaiʻi Abyssal Nodules and Associated Ecosystems Expedition USGS set out to test whether manganese nodules lie on the abyssal seafloor about 230 miles south of Hawaii Island.