There are four potential sources of deep sea minerals: polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, seafloor massive sulfides, and rare earth element muds.
Polymetallic Nodules (PMN) contain nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese. These potato-sized rocks are found on the abyssal plains lying on the seabed sediment. They do not require cutting, blasting, or tunneling. This is the exclusive focus of Impossible Metals. Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts (CFC) mainly contain cobalt. They form on sediment-free rock surfaces around oceanic seamounts, ocean plateaus, and other elevated features. Seafloor Massive Sulfides (SMS) mainly contain copper, lead, zinc, and some gold and silver. They appear on and within the seafloor when mineralized water discharges from a hydrothermal vent. The hot, mineral-rich water precipitates and condenses when it meets cold seawater. Most proposed mining is focused on extinct hydrothermal vents. Rare Earth Element Muds (REEM) mainly contain rare earth elements in the seabed sediment.
