State of the Science Fact Sheet: Deep Sea Mining

Deep-Sea Mining (DSM) refers to the extraction of critical mineral deposits on or below the seafloor. Of the 50 critical minerals identified as essential to U.S. economic and national security, at least 37 are found in seafloor deposits. Critical minerals include manganese, nickel, cobalt, and zinc, which are essential elements for manufacturing high-technology devices and advanced batteries, and have national defense applications. To date, no commercial-scale DSM has occurred globally; however, the increasing demand for critical minerals and rising costs of terrestrial sources, improvements in deep-sea technology and capabilities, and the potential for supply chain disruptions have reinvigorated discussions of DSM potential.