The Department of the Interior, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), has unveiled a new factsheet detailing potential locations of critical minerals located on the seafloor. This initiative aims to explore future opportunities for sourcing essential minerals from U.S. underwater lands to bolster the economy and national security.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum emphasized the significance of this survey for advancing resource development. He stated, "This survey of seafloor minerals represents a critical step in advancing the Trump administration’s commitment to unlocking America’s vast natural resources." Burgum connected this initiative to achieving American Energy Independence and maintaining competitiveness in global markets.
Leading efforts in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, the USGS focuses on assessing mineral resources offshore. "USGS science is extending our understanding of where critical minerals may be found," mentioned Sarah Ryker, acting director of the USGS, pointing to formations such as those in the Escanaba Trough deep under the Pacific. Ryker highlighted that USGS's work complements existing research on land-based minerals and associated supply chains.
The factsheet highlights several key points, noting that minerals are present across various ocean basins from coastal zones to deep oceans. Notably, nickel, cobalt, and manganese—materials vital to industries like stainless steel, superalloys, and battery production—are abundantly found in seafloor deposits.
In addition to these resources, the seabed contains critical minerals such as rare earth elements, yttrium, platinum group elements, gold, and silver. The provided USGS seabed minerals map outlines prospective regions where these materials may occur. However, according to the factsheet, more comprehensive data, including sampling and mapping, are needed before confirming the commercial viability of these deposits.
Amy Gartman, the lead of the USGS Global Seabed Minerals Resources Project, emphasized the collaborative nature of the USGS's work: “USGS science predicts and scientists work with partners to locate resources the nation needs. We then provide the mineral, ecosystem and hazard science around these potential resources."
The USGS has spearheaded deep sea mining research since 1962, examining seabed mineral resources and their potential environmental impacts. It collaborates with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversee oceanic regulatory functions.
The USGS has also been involved in addressing the under-mapping of American land resources. Initiated in 2018 under President Trump's first administration, the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative has helped map 30 percent of land-based critical mineral resources and continues to focus on seabed resources. In this endeavor, the USGS examines global supply chain risks and collaborates with various state geological surveys, private companies, and academic institutions.
For more details, the USGS factsheet is available for reference.
