Trump Admin Considers Selling Deep-Sea Mining Leases After Startup Pressure
Deep Sea Mining: A New Depth‑Pushing Adventure
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Interior twisted its gears and announced it’s starting the process to auction off deep‑sea mining leases. The move comes after a bold request from Impossible Metals (formerly Impossible Mining), a startup that’s turning ocean trenches into resource hotspots.
What the Interior Department is Saying
- Outlines a “potential mineral lease sale” in the waters off American Samoa.
- Notes that the agency must first publish a notice in the federal register.
- Calls for public feedback before any sale is finalized.
Inside the Secretary’s Speech
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum didn’t mince words. He painted the lease sale as a win for the nation, saying, “Critical minerals are fundamental to strengthening our nation’s resilience and safeguarding our national interests. By providing opportunities to responsibly access deep‑sea mineral resources, we are supporting both American economic growth and national security.”
Impossible Metals’ Pitch
In April, Impossible Metals formally requested these leases and has since showcased its state‑of‑the‑art underwater autonomous vehicle (UAV). The robot is lowered by crane into the abyss and uses robotic claws to snatch enormous polymetallic nodules. The company claims its method is gentler on the fragile deep‑water ecosystem than rivals that use vacuum–like harvesters.
Polymetallic Nodules 101
- These nodules accumulate over millions of years, holding minerals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper.
- As the world shifts toward electric vehicles, the demand for these critical gems has skyrocketed.
- China’s grip on cobalt markets has spurred governments and companies to scout alternative sources.
So, will the lease sale go through? With the Secretary’s upbeat tone and a growing appetite for reef‑renovated resources, it might just be a matter of time before the deep‑sea market dives into action.
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Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.
Deep‑Sea Diamonds: The Shiny New Gold Rush
Forget gold‑rush miners on dusty plains; now the real glitter lies beneath the ocean floor. Those huge lumps of metal—polymetallic nodules—are packed with minerals so dense that a single nodule can outshine a whole continental mine. Prospectors are huddled over them like kids over a giant chocolate cake.
Why the Planet is Feeling the Heat
- Micro‑life in distress: Even the tiniest ocean microbes are living at a snail speed. A mining operation could wipe them out, and research shows it would take about 50 years for the community to bounce back.
- Sponges & co.: These delicate floor dwellers could get crushed by robots, while others that wander past must battle sediment plumes turning crystal‑clear water into murky sludge.
- Unexpected oxygenators: The nodules themselves actually produce oxygen! That’s a big clue for scientists probing the cosmos for life elsewhere.
People’s Worries, Scientists’ Dilemmas
Ecologists and oceanographers have voiced their red‑flag concerns: the deep sea is fragile, and once an ecosystem gets disrupted, it can take decades—or even half a century—to recover. While the prospect of fresh metals is enticing, the “green” cost could be high.
What Happens If We Dig?
- Robots chip at the nodules, turning once‑stable environments into chaotic dust storms.
- Heavy sediment spreads, smothering sponges and forcing other creatures into difficult, oxygen‑depleted conditions.
- There’s a ripple effect: it’s not just the benthic community; entire food chains could falter.
In short, the deep sea’s slow‑moving life is like a plant that takes years to grow—if you trim it, it can’t simply “snap back.” The oceans are warning: “Slow down, don’t rush. We’re all in this together.”
