Polymetallic nodules are the most concentrated multi-metal ore known — and the largest undeveloped resource of energy-transition metals on the planet.
Polymetallic nodules are potato-sized mineral concretions, typically 1–15 cm across, that form over millions of years as metals precipitate out of seawater around a tiny nucleus. They rest loose on top of the soft sediment of the deep abyssal plain — not bound into rock, not buried under overburden.
Because they sit on the surface, they are collected, not mined. There is no drilling, no blasting, no tunnelling, and no waste rock to dispose of. The entire engineering challenge is to lift loose objects off very soft ground, four kilometres down.
| Metal | Used for | Share of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel | Batteries, stainless steel, defense alloys | 45% |
| Manganese | Steel, battery cathodes | 28% |
| Copper | Grid, wiring, electronics | 17% |
| Cobalt | Batteries, superalloys | 9% |
Revenue mix per the NORI-D Pre-Feasibility Study (Aug 2025) benchmark.
The richest nodule fields lie in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the eastern Pacific — a vast, flat abyssal plain far from human communities, in deep water where biomass is comparatively low. It is cold, dark and high-pressure, but geologically simple: broad open ground, gentle slopes, and nodules lying in the open.
Independent studies of the first U.S.-permitted nodule areas describe a resource measured in the billions of tonnes, with project economics anchored by a Pre-Feasibility Study carrying declared probable reserves. These third-party benchmarks set the planning context for what a disciplined collection programme can achieve.
A note on the numbers. Figures above are drawn from public, third-party studies of the broader nodule industry (notably the NORI-D PFS and Initial Assessment, SEC S-K 1300, August 2025). They are shown for context only — they are not Seafloor Elements' own resource estimates or projections, and are not a guarantee of any result.