Back to Marine Critical Minerals: Collected Sample Information
Underwater view of sandy ocean floor dotted with dark rocks.

2026 American Samoa Mapping: NV5 Contract Work: Box Core Photos

NOAA Marine Critical Minerals Data

Overview

In February-April 2026, NOAA and partners conducted a hydrographic survey project to map and characterize over 30,000 square nautical miles of federal waters off American Samoa. Operations included the collection of seafloor mapping data via ship-based multibeam sonar, seafloor imagery and higher-resolution mapping data via autonomous underwater vehicles, and geological samples via box cores at site within the survey area.

Data Availability

While project work was underway, ship-based bathymetric (mapping) coverage data was being posted in near real-time on the NOAA Hydrographic Survey Projects 2026 web page. Images and locations from box core sampling were posted below.

Following the completion of the work, quality approved and controlled bathymetric data will be available within NOAA’s public data archives after project completion. AUV data will also be submitted to NOAA’s public data archives within 90-120 days of its completion. Results from onward sample analyses will be made publicly available.

Box Core Sample Photos

[Note that the box core is 0.75 meters (2.46 feet) by 0.75 meters (2.46 feet).]
Seafloor images courtesy of NOAA  |  Shipboard images courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey

BX38

A murky, sediment-covered seafloor with scattered small debris and fine particles in a greenish-yellow underwater environment.

Seafloor Image
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 01:06 UTC
Intended Location: 167.86094°W, 13.17091°S
Depth: 5,193 meters (3.23 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 2 MB).

Brown wet sediment sample in a square metal container with a USGS label.

Shipboard Image
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 01:06 UTC
Intended Location: 167.86094°W, 13.17091°S
Depth: 5,193 meters (3.23 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 2 MB).

BX37

Seafloor Image
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 08:47 UTC
Intended Location: 166.73176°W, 14.02754°S
Depth: 5,539 meters (3.44 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.50 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 28, 2026
Time: 08:47 UTC
Intended Location: 166.73176°W, 14.02754°S
Depth: 5,539 meters (3.44 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 5.02 MB).

BX36

Seafloor Image
Date: April 27, 2026
Time: 19:47 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36376°W, 14.45901°S
Depth: 5,420 meters (3.37 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 5.20 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 27, 2026
Time: 19:47 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36376°W, 14.45901°S
Depth: 5,420 meters (3.37 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.47 MB).

BX35

Seafloor Image
Date: April 27, 2026
Time: 13:33 UTC
Intended Location: 166.17642°W, 14.20799°S
Depth: 5,482 meters (3.41 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.72 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 27, 2026
Time: 13:33 UTC
Intended Location: 166.17642°W, 14.20799°S
Depth: 5,482 meters (3.41 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.73 MB).

BX34

Seafloor Image
Date: April 27, 2026
Time: 05:36 UTC
Intended Location: 165.99011°W, 14.08375°S
Depth: 5,432 meters (3.41 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.16 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 27, 2026
Time: 05:36 UTC
Intended Location: 165.99011°W, 14.08375°S
Depth: 5,432 meters (3.41 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.13 MB).

BX33

Seafloor Image
Date: April 26, 2026
Time: 21:18 UTC
Intended Location: 165.80447°W, 14.19802°S
Depth: 5,432 meters (3.38 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.80 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 26, 2026
Time: 21:18 UTC
Intended Location: 165.80447°W, 14.19802°S
Depth: 5,432 meters (3.38 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.47 MB).

BX32

Seafloor Image
Date: April 26, 2026
Time: 13:13 UTC
Intended Location: 165.61983°W, 14.36846°S
Depth: 5,504 meters (3.42 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.04 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 26, 2026
Time: 13:13 UTC
Intended Location: 165.61983°W, 14.36846°S
Depth: 5,504 meters (3.42 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.46 MB).

BX31

Seafloor Image
Date: April 26, 2026
Time: 01:23 UTC
Intended Location: 165.62162°W, 15.10518°S
Depth: 5,619 meters (3.49 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.03 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 26, 2026
Time: 01:23 UTC
Intended Location: 165.62162°W, 15.10518°S
Depth: 5,619 meters (3.49 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.91 MB).

BX30

Seafloor Image
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 14:57 UTC
Intended Location: 165.62234°W, 15.45017°S
Depth: 5,619 meters (3.49 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.11 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 14:57 UTC
Intended Location: 165.62234°W, 15.45017°S
Depth: 5,619 meters (3.49 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.60 MB).

BX29

Seafloor Image
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 05:40 UTC
Intended Location: 165.9962313°W, 15.4643953°S
Depth: 5,513 meters (3.43 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.30 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 05:40 UTC
Intended Location: 165.9962313°W, 15.4643953°S
Depth: 5,513 meters (3.43 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.86 MB).

BX28

Seafloor Image
Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 20:37 UTC
Intended Location: 165.80995°W, 15.64847°S
Depth: 5,544 meters (3.44 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.17 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 20:37 UTC
Intended Location: 165.80995°W, 15.64847°S
Depth: 5,544 meters (3.44 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.49 MB).

BX27

Seafloor Image
Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 12:14 UTC
Intended Location: 165.62353°W, 15.8013°S
Depth: 5,588 meters (3.47 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.08 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 12:14 UTC
Intended Location: 165.62353°W, 15.8013°S
Depth: 5,588 meters (3.47 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.91 MB).

BX26

Seafloor Image
Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 01:50 UTC
Intended Location: 165.62431°W, 16.10663°S
Depth: 5,731 meters (3.56 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.09 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 24, 2026
Time: 01:50 UTC
Intended Location: 165.62431°W, 16.10663°S
Depth: 5,731 meters (3.56 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.85 MB).

BX25

Seafloor Image
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 17:14 UTC
Intended Location: 165.8114116°W, 16.0114959°S
Depth: 5,650 meters (3.51 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.19 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 17:14 UTC
Intended Location: 165.8114116°W, 16.0114959°S
Depth: 5,650 meters (3.51 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.62 MB).

BX24

Seafloor Image
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 08:20 UTC
Intended Location: 166.0002369°W, 16.1813073°S
Depth: 5,431 meters (3.37 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.15 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 08:20 UTC
Intended Location: 166.0002369°W, 16.1813073°S
Depth: 5,431 meters (3.37 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.97 MB).

BX23

Seafloor Image
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 23:13 UTC
Intended Location: 165.99801°W, 15.82934°S
Depth: 5,635 meters (3.50 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.65 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 23:13 UTC
Intended Location: 165.99801°W, 15.82934°S
Depth: 5,635 meters (3.50 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.18 MB).

BX22

Seafloor Image
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 12:07 UTC
Intended Location: 166.56193°W, 16.00534°S
Depth: 5,594 meters (3.48 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.0 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 12:07 UTC
Intended Location: 166.56193°W, 16.00534°S
Depth: 5,594 meters (3.48 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.0 MB).

BX21

Seafloor Image
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 02:31 UTC
Intended Location: 166.56459°W, 16.37013°S
Depth: 5,719 meters (3.55 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.0 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 22, 2026
Time: 02:31 UTC
Intended Location: 166.56459°W, 16.37013°S
Depth: 5,719 meters (3.55 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.0 MB).

BX20

Seafloor Image
Date: April 21, 2026
Time: 15:37 UTC
Intended Location: 166.00024°W, 16.18131°S
Depth: 5,431 meters (3.37 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 7.18 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 21, 2026
Time: 15:37 UTC
Intended Location: 166.00024°W, 16.18131°S
Depth: 5,431 meters (3.37 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.5 MB).

BX19

Seafloor Image
Date: April 21, 2026
Time: 07:21 UTC
Intended Location: 165.8129355°W, 16.3739535°S
Depth: 5,680 meters (3.53 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.80 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 21, 2026
Time: 07:21 UTC
Intended Location: 165.8129355°W, 16.3739535°S
Depth: 5,680 meters (3.53 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.0 MB).

BX18

Shipboard Image
Date: April 21, 2026
Time: 00:34 UTC
Intended Location: 165.8129355°W, 16.3739535°S
Depth: 5,680 meters (3.53 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.55 MB).

BX17

Seafloor Image
Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 15:45 UTC
Intended Location: 166.0015261°W, 16.5152015°S
Depth: 5,562 meters (3.46 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.73 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 15:45 UTC
Intended Location: 166.0015261°W, 16.5152015°S
Depth: 5,562 meters (3.46 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.45 MB).

BX16

Seafloor Image
Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 04:21 UTC
Intended Location: 166.5668178°W, 16.7325534°S
Depth: 5,580 meters (3.47 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.16 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 04:21 UTC
Intended Location: 166.5668178°W, 16.7325534°S
Depth: 5,580 meters (3.47 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.36 MB).

BX15

Shipboard Image
Date: April 19, 2026
Time: 17:41 UTC
Intended Location: 166.97288°W, 17.03596°S
Depth: 5,592 meters (3.47 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.30 MB).

BX14

Shipboard Image
Date: April 19, 2026
Time: 06:33 UTC
Intended Location: 166.94020°W, 16.54338°S
Depth: 5,580 meters (3.47 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.98 MB).

BX13

Seafloor Image
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 20:58 UTC
Intended Location: 167.31582°W, 16.36286°S
Depth: 5,704 meters (3.54 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 6.71 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 20:58 UTC
Intended Location: 167.31582°W, 16.36286°S
Depth: 5,704 meters (3.54 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.30 MB).

BX12

Seafloor Image
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 11:04 UTC
Intended Location: 166.93333°W, 16.18838°S
Depth: 5,691 meters (3.54 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.17 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 11:04 UTC
Intended Location: 166.93333°W, 16.18838°S
Depth: 5,691 meters (3.54 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.96 MB).

BX11

Seafloor Image
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 01:06 UTC
Intended Location: 167.12134°W, 15.82092°S
Depth: 5,779 meters (3.59 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.97 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 18, 2026
Time: 01:06 UTC
Intended Location: 167.12134°W, 15.82092°S
Depth: 5,779 meters (3.59 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.0 MB).

BX10

Seafloor Image
Date: April 17, 2026
Time: 14:22 UTC
Intended Location: 166.74218°W, 15.46210°S
Depth: 5,497 meters (3.42 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.41 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 17, 2026
Time: 14:22 UTC
Intended Location: 166.74218°W, 15.46210°S
Depth: 5,497 meters (3.42 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.38 MB).

BX09

Shipboard Image
Date: April 17, 2026
Time: 04:46 UTC
Intended Location: 166.37020°W, 15.46485°S
Depth: 5,482 meters (3.41 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.13 MB).

BX08

Seafloor Image
Date: April 16, 2026
Time: 19:14 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36780°W, 15.10228°S
Depth: 5,544 meters (3.44 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.56 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 16, 2026
Time: 19:14 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36780°W, 15.10228°S
Depth: 5,544 meters (3.44 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 2.08 MB).

BX07

Seafloor Image
Date: April 16, 2026
Time: 09:54 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36590°W, 14.79937°S
Depth: 5,570 meters (3.46 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 4.95 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 16, 2026
Time: 09:54 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36590°W, 14.79937°S
Depth: 5,570 meters (3.46 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.73 MB).

BX06

Shipboard Image
Date: April 16, 2026
Time: 00:16 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36330°W, 14.39356°S
Depth: 5,594 meters (3.48 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.20 MB).

BX05

Seafloor Image
Date: April 15, 2026
Time: 14:41 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36119°W, 14.04159°S
Depth: 5,498 meters (3.42 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 5.15 MB).

Shipboard Image
Date: April 15, 2026
Time: 14:41 UTC
Intended Location: 166.36119°W, 14.04159°S
Depth: 5,498 meters (3.42 miles)
Download largest version (jpg, 3.80 MB).

BX04

Shipboard Image
Date: April 15, 2026
Time: 04:40 UTC
Intended Location: 166.54230°W, 13.46947°S
Download largest version (jpg, 1.75 MB).

BX03

Shipboard Image
Date: April 14, 2026
Time: 19:00 UTC
Intended Location: 166.54230°W, 13.46947°S
Download largest version (jpg, 2 MB).

BX02

Seafloor Image
Date: April 14, 2026
Time: 09:44 UTC
Intended Location: 166.54230°W, 13.46947°S
(Note: No sample collected)
Download largest version (jpg, 3 MB).