Underwater view of sandy ocean floor dotted with dark rocks.

NOAA Ocean Exploration: Advancing Understanding of Marine Critical Minerals

NOAA Ocean Exploration (NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research) is the only federal program dedicated to exploring the unknown deep ocean. For more than 20 years, we have been working to unlock the ocean’s potential through scientific discovery, technological advancements, partnerships, data delivery, and education. By leading national efforts to fill gaps in basic understanding of the deep-ocean environment, we are well positioned to provide data, information, and syntheses needed to advance U.S. leadership in seabed exploration and set the standard for responsible mineral extraction and nodule collection practices for the offshore critical mineral industry.

Collecting Data and Information

NOAA Ocean Exploration works to expand the science and understanding of marine critical minerals by using our own assets and coordinating the assets of federal, academic, and industry partners. Specific capabilities include:

Surface-Based Seafloor Data Collection

  • Ship-based multibeam sonar data to generate bathymetric maps of the seafloor at 100-meter resolution, mosaics based on sonar backscatter to show differences in seabed character, and maps of water column features
  • Uncrewed surface vessel multibeam sonar data to generate bathymetric maps

High-Precision Seafloor Data Collection

  • Autonomous underwater vehicle multibeam sonar data to generate bathymetric maps at resolutions less than one meter
  • High-definition imagery data from remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles to reveal small features and ground truth mapping data

Physical Seafloor Sample Collection

  • Geological, biological, and water samples collected via tools such as remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles and box cores and made publicly available for further analyses
  • In situ physical, chemical, and biological baseline environmental data collected from sensors such as conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) rosette systems, acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP), environmental DNA (eDNA) samplers, etc.
Infographic of ocean exploration: 3.5 million sq km seafloor mapped, more than 30% of US deepwater mapping data. Over 200 expeditions, 10 countries, 1,050 remotely operated vehicle dives, 1,250 CTD and rosettes, 250 other technology deployments, 1,400 geological samples, 5,300 biological samples, 2,700 water samples, 470 terabytes shared data, 150 science publications, and 5,900 media stories.

In executing its mission to explore the ocean for national benefit, NOAA Ocean Exploration has led or supported deep-sea exploration around the globe, including through its competitive grant program and the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI). The graphic below highlights accomplishments from NOAA Ocean Exploration-funded expeditions from 2010-2025 on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and Ocean Exploration Trust’s Exploration Vessel Nautilus. Download largest version (jpg, 214 KB).

Responsible use of ocean resources like marine critical minerals is built on providing the best science available to decision makers. The data collected by NOAA Ocean Exploration are used to inform resource managers and ensure sound decision-making. NOAA Ocean Exploration does not play a role in making decisions related to seabed mineral resource management or regulation. To learn more about NOAA’s role in permitting and licensing deep-sea mining activities, visit the Deep Seabed Hard Minerals Mining page.

Partnerships

Illustration of a NOAA research vessel above interconnected circles labeled Federal, Academic, Industry, and Non-Profit with a banner reading "Exploring the Deep Together - Global Collaboration -."

NOAA Ocean Exploration’s work, from expeditions to technology testing and implementation, is planned and conducted through established federal, academic, non-profit, and industry partnerships, allowing us to push the boundaries of expertise and technologies, extend our capabilities, and achieve more than could ever be accomplished alone.

We are a leading partner in federal efforts to explore and map marine critical minerals, working closely with partners across NOAA, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, and others to develop and implement plans for the collection and delivery of data and information needed to identify mineral-enriched areas in priority U.S. waters and support mineral resource assessments. 

We also work with international partners interested in developing seabed minerals responsibly in areas on their continental shelves, with operations grounded in mutual respect and forward-looking cooperation, from science and innovation to marine protection and economic opportunity.

Efforts to Support Marine Critical Mineral Identification

NOAA Ocean Exploration and our partners continue to leverage capabilities to conduct mapping and exploration operations, including within areas of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone identified as high priorities for polymetallic nodules. Recent and ongoing expeditions and projects that NOAA Ocean Exploration is leading or supporting include:

Additional expeditions being led or supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration in 2026 are planned for the waters around American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawai‘i, Wake Island, Kingman and Palmyra Islands, Johnston Island, and other regions of high priority.

Underwater scene with remotely operated vehicle shining a light on the ocean floor.

NOAA Ocean Exploration’s remotely operated vehicle, Deep Discoverer, traverses a field of polymetallic nodules. Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download largest version (jpg, 675 KB).

An Exploration Priority

President Donald Trump made deep-sea mining an administration priority when he released Executive Order EO14285: Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources. This executive order aims to establish the United States as a global leader in responsible seabed mineral exploration and development, contributing to our national security and economic interests. It also provides guidance to advance U.S. leadership in seabed mineral development by rapidly developing domestic capabilities to process seabed minerals and supporting investment in deep-sea science, mapping, and technology.

The executive order directed the Department of Commerce to develop a U.S. offshore critical minerals mapping plan. NOAA Ocean Exploration played a key role in the development of the resulting mapping plan, which identifies priority areas of the seabed for mapping that are highly prospective for polymetallic nodules containing critical minerals. The office will play a significant role in the plan’s implementation.

About Marine Critical Minerals

Critical minerals are used in everything from defense systems and batteries to smartphones and medical devices. Of the 60 critical minerals identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as essential to U.S. economic and national security, more than half are found in deep seafloor deposits. Accessing these resources in order to strengthen our nation’s economy and secure our energy future requires a better understanding of the deep ocean through mapping and exploration.

“Seabed mineral resources,” as defined in E.O. 14285, include polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, polymetallic sulfides, heavy mineral sands, phosphorites, and other mineral-bearing materials. These resources can contain high concentrations of manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt, and zinc, among other metals, which are required for the manufacture of high-technology devices, advanced batteries, and national defense applications.