FAQs Archive

Q: B.7 How will Impossible Metals prove selective harvesting has a lower environmental impact than competing technologies?

The only way we can prove our impact level is to collect nodules from the seafloor, so that is what we will do. We will carry out a test where our robot picks up nodules, typically called “component testing” or “test mining,” depending on scope. During this test, there will be a wide range of environmental monitoring to characterize the environmental impact, including sediment monitoring and a photomosaic with detailed imagery before and after the test. Before the test, sediment modeling will be carried out to estimate the sediment disturbance. Impossible Metals is committed to transparency about all modeling and monitoring results. Impossible Metals is collaborating with BGR to test our hovering selective harvesting robot for collecting critical metals from the seabed. See t he press release .

Q: A.12 Where are deep sea minerals found?

All of the world's oceans contain deep sea minerals. The international seabed area, under ISA jurisdiction, has issued exploration licenses in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), the Indian Ocean, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and the Pacific Ocean. Many countries contain deep sea minerals within their EEZs, such as the Cook Islands, Norway, Japan, Sweden, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Chile, the United States, Brazil, and China. See countries developing subsea minerals in their EEZs .

Q: A.11 How significant are the reserves for deep sea minerals vs land-based reserves?

71% of our planet's surface area is oceans, and only 29% is land. We have mined on land since the Bronze Age, so the world's oceans contain significantly more nickel, cobalt, and manganese reserves.

Q: A.10 What are the different types of deep sea minerals?

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.

A.12 Where are deep sea minerals found?

A.11 How significant are the reserves for deep sea minerals vs land-based reserves?

A.10 What are the different types of deep sea minerals?

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B.7 How will Impossible Metals prove selective harvesting has a lower environmental impact than competing technologies?

B.6 What is Impossible Metals’ plan to protect the marine environment?

B.5 What are the environmental concerns related to deep sea mining?

A.12 Where are deep sea minerals found?

A.11 How significant are the reserves for deep sea minerals vs land-based reserves?

A.10 What are the different types of deep sea minerals?

Impossible Metals

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