FAQS: Mineral Processing of Polymetallic Nodules2025-04-28T16:31:38-07:00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please contact our team if you have any questions that aren’t covered here or would like to discuss your questions or feedback with Impossible Metals.

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Mineral Processing of Polymetallic Nodules

H.1 How do you process (refine) nodules into high-purity metals?2025-04-28T16:15:29-07:00

Mineral processing is the process of separating commercially valuable minerals from their ores. The first step is called comminution, which involves reducing solid materials from one average particle size to a smaller average particle size, typically through crushing or grinding. The next step is either Pyrometallurgy (the use of heat) or Hydrometallurgy (the use of acid) to separate the valuable metals from the ore. A novel technology using living bacteria to separate metals from ore is in development. One example is Viridian Biometals, which spun out of Impossible Metals.

It has been demonstrated that existing pyrometallurgy and/or hydrometallurgy processes can be used to process nodules. Typically, existing mineral processing plants require modifications to extract multiple metals from the nodules.

H.2 What should be the strategy for mineral processing of the nodules?2025-04-28T16:20:31-07:00

Impossible Metals plans to outsource the mineral processing of the nodules. We will pay a fee for each ton of nodules that are refined into high-purity nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and possibly rare earth elements. We see three phases:

  1. Create a strategic stockpile of nodules in the US to stimulate processing investments.
  2. Upgrade existing nickel processing facilities in friendly nations, such as Japan, Australia, and Canada, to process nodules. Efficiency is likely to be around 75%.
  3. Build bespoke nodule processing facilities in the US and friendly nations, such as Canada. Efficiency is likely to be around 95%.
H.3 What testing has been done to refine nodules?2025-04-28T16:24:15-07:00

The Japanese company Pacific Metals (PAMCO) has processed over 2,000 tons of nodules. Other companies, such as SGS and Hatch, have also developed flow sheets.  

H.4 What are your requirements for future refining facilities in North America?2025-04-28T16:25:15-07:00

Ideally, these facilities will be collocated with deep-water ports, avoiding the need for land transfer of the nodules. The location would ideally have access to low-cost, really clean energy and be geographically close to the customers for the metals.

Glossary

Abyssal plains =  Is an underwater plain on the deep ocean floor, usually found at depths between 3,000 and 6,000 meters.

AUV (Autonomous underwater vehicle) = AUVs are robot submarines that can explore the ocean without a pilot or tether.

Biodiversity = biological diversity among and within plant and animal species in an environment.

CCZ (Clarion-Clipperton Zone) = A large area in the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to Mexico.

Critical Minerals = Copper, nickel, and cobalt are essential components in many of today’s rapidly growing clean energy applications.

DP (Dynamic Positioning) = is a computer-controlled system to automatically maintain a vessel’s position and heading by using its own propellers and thrusters.

DSM (Deep Sea Minerals) = The minerals found on the deep seabed.

EEZ (exclusive economic zone) = an area of the ocean, generally extending 200 nautical miles beyond a nation’s territorial sea, within which a coastal nation has jurisdiction over both living and nonliving resources.

EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) = is a tool for decision-making. It describes the positive and negative environmental effects of a proposed action.

Eureka I, II, III = Underwater robots (AUVs’) designed by Impossible metals for selective harvesting of polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor.

EV (electric vehicle) = is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion.

ISA (International Seabed Authority) = is an autonomous international organization that organizes and controls all mineral-resources-related activities in the Area for the benefit of humankind.

Megafauna = animals of a given area that can be seen with the unaided eye.

UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) = established a comprehensive international legal framework to govern activities related to the global oceans.

USBL (ultra-short baseline)  =  method of underwater acoustic positioning as GPS does not work underwater.

TAM (Total addressable market) = a metric that estimates the maximum revenue potential for a product or service if it were to capture 100% of a market.

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