See What Deep-Sea Mining Actually Looks Like, 2 Miles Down

Deep-sea mining is moving from concept to potential reality as the United States signals it will issue the world’s first commercial permits to mine in international waters. The Trump administration launched the fast‑track plan last year, and more than a dozen applications have been filed with regulators seeking access to the ocean’s mineral riches. The Metals Company has led the field with tests in the Clarion‑Clipperton Zone, a 1.7‑million‑square‑mile area in the Pacific where nodules rich in nickel, cobalt, and manganese lie buried. The debate centers on legal authority, environmental risk, and cost as the industry eyes the seabed.