Impossible Metals

Key points Impossible Metals compares its autonomous robotic harvesting of polymetallic nodules to conventional dredging methods used by competing deep sea mining operations. The company positions its selective, robotic approach as reducing seabed disturbance relative to broad-area dredging.…

Key points Travis McLing, chief geologist at Idaho National Laboratory, says China controls 67% of global mining, about 90% of rare earth oxide and metal production, and 89% of high field strength magnet output. INL has begun its first pilot test for Perpetua Resources, running an antimony…

Key points CTO/COO and co-founder Jason Gillham presents version 7 of the techno-economic model, which aligns with TMC’s NORI prefeasibility study and adopts an 8% weighted average cost of capital. At peak economics, Eureka 3 is modeled to collect 2.25 million wet tons per year at $110…

Key points The Eureka Collection System uses underwater robots with camera-based artificial intelligence to selectively pick polymetallic nodules from the seabed while avoiding visible life and minimizing sediment disturbance, leaving a large percentage of nodules untouched. A full…

Key points The debate pits Impossible Metals CEO Oliver Gunasekara, arguing seabed mining is essential to meet growing metal demand, against Caladan Capital’s Victor Vescovo, arguing against, moderated by Eric Young. Gunasekara says Impossible Metals’ robot removes only about 6%…

Key points CTO and COO Jason Gillham tours Impossible Metals’ custom-built tow tank lab, a darkened room with a steel frame holding a chain-driven vehicle that moves over a water tank to simulate deep-ocean conditions. A Stewart platform gives the vehicle six degrees of freedom,…

Key points Bob Galyen, retired chief technology officer of CATL and chairman of the SAE Battery Standards Steering Committee, outlines four factors behind China’s battery industry success: government support, private equity investment, available technology and human-machine…

Key points DeepFocus, a Portuguese startup founded in 2023, uses machine learning workflows to generate predictive maps for polymetallic nodules, crusts and seafloor massive sulfides, presented by CEO Joao Carvalho. In a 300,000 square kilometer Clarion-Clipperton Zone assessment, the…