What Are Polymetallic Nodules? ocean.si.edu/planet-ocean... 🦑🧪🌍
What Are Polymetallic Nodules?
ocean.si.edu
September 30, 2025 at 4:56 PM
What Are Polymetallic Nodules? ocean.si.edu/planet-ocean... 🦑🧪🌍
New research shows that the abundance of polymetallic nodules on the Northwest Pacific seafloor is associated with major shifts in deep-sea megafaunal communities. The mineral-rich seafloor is not biologically uniform.
Pronounced megafaunal community transition driven by polymetallic nodule cover in the Northwest Pacific abyss - Communications Earth & Environment
Abyssal benthic megafaunal density exhibit a unique U-shaped response to polymetallic nodule cover in the Northwest Pacific that is distinct from other well-studied areas, highlighting the need for re...
www.nature.com
September 19, 2026 at 5:02 PM
New research shows that the abundance of polymetallic nodules on the Northwest Pacific seafloor is associated with major shifts in deep-sea megafaunal communities. The mineral-rich seafloor is not biologically uniform.
"Deep-sea mining risks for sharks, rays, and chimaeras" www.cell.com/current-biol...
@seaprinceaaron.bsky.social & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social
@seaprinceaaron.bsky.social & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
"Deep-sea mining risks for sharks, rays, and chimaeras" www.cell.com/current-biol...
@seaprinceaaron.bsky.social & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social
@seaprinceaaron.bsky.social & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social
Geology Bluesky, please add polymetallic nodules from the deep sea to the Do Not Lick list.
July 24, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Geology Bluesky, please add polymetallic nodules from the deep sea to the Do Not Lick list.
Magnetotactic bacteria have the curious quality of aligning themselves with Earth’s magnetic field. They may also support the growth of polymetallic nodules.
Read more: bit.ly/Eos-Feb2025
Read more: bit.ly/Eos-Feb2025
The Unexpected Role of Magnetic Microbes in Deep-Sea Mining - Eos
A new study highlights the co-occurrence of magnetic bacteria and polymetallic nodules and may offer insights into how the mineral-rich nodules form on the ocean floor.
eos.org
January 30, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Magnetotactic bacteria have the curious quality of aligning themselves with Earth’s magnetic field. They may also support the growth of polymetallic nodules.
Read more: bit.ly/Eos-Feb2025
Read more: bit.ly/Eos-Feb2025
#Crustmas (it's an isopod from the deep sea polymetallic nodule environment in the Pacific)
peerj.com/articles/8621/
peerj.com/articles/8621/
Today I learned that there's a new crustacean that was described in 2020 named after Metallica and it's got it's own little shirt design and I'd be lying if I said I didn't desperately want it
December 4, 2024 at 8:27 PM
#Crustmas (it's an isopod from the deep sea polymetallic nodule environment in the Pacific)
peerj.com/articles/8621/
peerj.com/articles/8621/
Geochemical Mechanism: This oxygen is produced by polymetallic nodules on the seafloor, which act like natural "geobatteries" to split seawater molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
April 9, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Geochemical Mechanism: This oxygen is produced by polymetallic nodules on the seafloor, which act like natural "geobatteries" to split seawater molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
We’re doing an experiment near a golf course, and trying pickup golf balls when we see them in the water (like mining polymetallic nodules). I think we’ve gotten 1%.
June 19, 2025 at 10:27 AM
We’re doing an experiment near a golf course, and trying pickup golf balls when we see them in the water (like mining polymetallic nodules). I think we’ve gotten 1%.
“Lunsin, which was established in 2005, is developing the Kyzyl-Tashtyg polymetallic deposit with a license until May 1, 2031, Kommersant reports…”
May 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
“Lunsin, which was established in 2005, is developing the Kyzyl-Tashtyg polymetallic deposit with a license until May 1, 2031, Kommersant reports…”
In 2024, researchers reported a startling finding: deep-sea rock formations—known as polymetallic nodules—may be producing oxygen in total darkness. The phenomenon, dubbed “dark oxygen,” challenged assumptions about life-supporting chemistry in the deep ocean.
Watch the full video: bit.ly/4foQbHp
Watch the full video: bit.ly/4foQbHp
August 4, 2025 at 4:27 PM
In 2024, researchers reported a startling finding: deep-sea rock formations—known as polymetallic nodules—may be producing oxygen in total darkness. The phenomenon, dubbed “dark oxygen,” challenged assumptions about life-supporting chemistry in the deep ocean.
Watch the full video: bit.ly/4foQbHp
Watch the full video: bit.ly/4foQbHp
Excitement still building around this study and its implications!
"The mysterious discovery of ‘dark oxygen’ on the ocean floor and how polymetallic nodules—the sought-after bounty of deep-sea miners—could be the source"
www.wired.com/story/dark-o...
"The mysterious discovery of ‘dark oxygen’ on the ocean floor and how polymetallic nodules—the sought-after bounty of deep-sea miners—could be the source"
www.wired.com/story/dark-o...
The Mysterious Discovery of ‘Dark Oxygen’ on the Ocean Floor
Researchers believe they have discovered oxygen being produced 4,000 meters below the sea surface, and think polymetallic nodules—the sought-after bounty of deep-sea miners—could be the source.
www.wired.com
July 27, 2024 at 10:58 PM
Excitement still building around this study and its implications!
"The mysterious discovery of ‘dark oxygen’ on the ocean floor and how polymetallic nodules—the sought-after bounty of deep-sea miners—could be the source"
www.wired.com/story/dark-o...
"The mysterious discovery of ‘dark oxygen’ on the ocean floor and how polymetallic nodules—the sought-after bounty of deep-sea miners—could be the source"
www.wired.com/story/dark-o...
🧪🌍🌊
Studying the environmental impacts of some newly proposed marine mining activities.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Studying the environmental impacts of some newly proposed marine mining activities.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Impacts of Mining Polymetallic Nodules on Surface Seawater and Marine Picophytoplankton
Polymetallic nodules’ (PMNs) deep-sea mining poses risks to marine ecosystems, yet its effects on surface picophytoplankton remain unclear. This study assessed metal release from PMNs and its impact o...
pubs.acs.org
August 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM
🧪🌍🌊
Studying the environmental impacts of some newly proposed marine mining activities.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Studying the environmental impacts of some newly proposed marine mining activities.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
To add insult to injury, all studies so far suggest there are no commercially viable nodule fields in the proposed lease area. The western lease nodules aren't even polymetallic nodules, they're carbonate concretions with a thin layer of manganese.
It's harm for the sake of harm.
It's harm for the sake of harm.
US territories hit out at Trump plan to explore deep sea mining in the Pacific www.theguardian.com/environment/...
US territories hit out at Trump plan to explore deep sea mining in the Pacific
US agency releases plan to lease millions of hectares of seabed off the coast of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam
www.theguardian.com
August 24, 2026 at 1:47 PM
To add insult to injury, all studies so far suggest there are no commercially viable nodule fields in the proposed lease area. The western lease nodules aren't even polymetallic nodules, they're carbonate concretions with a thin layer of manganese.
It's harm for the sake of harm.
It's harm for the sake of harm.
Lots of chatter by two deep-sea mining CEOs on this panel about the urgency to mine seabed for stock piling & natural security purposes. Then @drandrewthaler.bsky.social comes in with....
"... and the cheapest place to stockpile a polymetallic nodule is to leave it on the seafloor.” 💥
"... and the cheapest place to stockpile a polymetallic nodule is to leave it on the seafloor.” 💥
I'm watching @drandrewthaler.bsky.social testify now in front of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.
"While I have significant concerns about the long-term environmental harms that can result from mining the deep seafloor, I am not an absolutist against all forms of deep-sea mining."
"While I have significant concerns about the long-term environmental harms that can result from mining the deep seafloor, I am not an absolutist against all forms of deep-sea mining."
January 22, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Lots of chatter by two deep-sea mining CEOs on this panel about the urgency to mine seabed for stock piling & natural security purposes. Then @drandrewthaler.bsky.social comes in with....
"... and the cheapest place to stockpile a polymetallic nodule is to leave it on the seafloor.” 💥
"... and the cheapest place to stockpile a polymetallic nodule is to leave it on the seafloor.” 💥
polymetallic nodules are amazing. there is a fascinating geological process which makes spheres of manganese and iron (and other compounds) on the ocean floor.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangane...
it's grotesque to consider extraction given it occurs very slowly in incredibly vulnerable environments.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangane...
it's grotesque to consider extraction given it occurs very slowly in incredibly vulnerable environments.
Manganese nodule - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 7, 2026 at 6:27 PM
polymetallic nodules are amazing. there is a fascinating geological process which makes spheres of manganese and iron (and other compounds) on the ocean floor.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangane...
it's grotesque to consider extraction given it occurs very slowly in incredibly vulnerable environments.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangane...
it's grotesque to consider extraction given it occurs very slowly in incredibly vulnerable environments.
(7/10) The Nodule Crown Coral is the first & only known stony coral that lives attached to polymetallic nodules.
www.marinespecies.org/worms-top-te...
@guadalupebribiesca.bsky.social @noc.ac.uk @nhm-london.bsky.social @sgn.one
#toptenmarinespecies #taxonomistappreciationday #OceanDecade #deepsea
www.marinespecies.org/worms-top-te...
@guadalupebribiesca.bsky.social @noc.ac.uk @nhm-london.bsky.social @sgn.one
#toptenmarinespecies #taxonomistappreciationday #OceanDecade #deepsea
March 19, 2026 at 12:32 AM
(7/10) The Nodule Crown Coral is the first & only known stony coral that lives attached to polymetallic nodules.
www.marinespecies.org/worms-top-te...
@guadalupebribiesca.bsky.social @noc.ac.uk @nhm-london.bsky.social @sgn.one
#toptenmarinespecies #taxonomistappreciationday #OceanDecade #deepsea
www.marinespecies.org/worms-top-te...
@guadalupebribiesca.bsky.social @noc.ac.uk @nhm-london.bsky.social @sgn.one
#toptenmarinespecies #taxonomistappreciationday #OceanDecade #deepsea
JFC. These polymetallic nodules form over millions of years. We should leave them alone.
Remember that time when we decided to mine something that formed over millions of years and caused climate change?
Remember that time when we decided to mine something that formed over millions of years and caused climate change?
April 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM
JFC. These polymetallic nodules form over millions of years. We should leave them alone.
Remember that time when we decided to mine something that formed over millions of years and caused climate change?
Remember that time when we decided to mine something that formed over millions of years and caused climate change?
Nodule mining *around* seamounts seems like the worst of both worlds. Maximum impact of multiple ecosystems.
Beyond the plains: deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules on and around seamounts
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
Beyond the plains: deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules on and around seamounts
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
Frontiers | Beyond the plains: deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules on and around seamounts
Deep-sea mining management, scientific research, and public discourse have largely focused on polymetallic nodule extraction from abyssal plains. However, th...
www.frontiersin.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Nodule mining *around* seamounts seems like the worst of both worlds. Maximum impact of multiple ecosystems.
Beyond the plains: deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules on and around seamounts
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
Beyond the plains: deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules on and around seamounts
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
PhD Studentship in C–H Functionalisation Using Polymetallic Complexes at Imperial College London on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - PhD Studentship in C–H Functionalisation Using Polymetallic Complexes at Imperial College London, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
The new stickers are in. Last year, scientists discovered a whiplash squid hiding amidst polymetallic nodules on the abyssal plain.
Now you can get your own stealthy nodule squid by subscribing to my Patreon at the big sticker tier.
patreon.com/Andrew_Thaler
Now you can get your own stealthy nodule squid by subscribing to my Patreon at the big sticker tier.
patreon.com/Andrew_Thaler
February 17, 2026 at 9:40 PM
The new stickers are in. Last year, scientists discovered a whiplash squid hiding amidst polymetallic nodules on the abyssal plain.
Now you can get your own stealthy nodule squid by subscribing to my Patreon at the big sticker tier.
patreon.com/Andrew_Thaler
Now you can get your own stealthy nodule squid by subscribing to my Patreon at the big sticker tier.
patreon.com/Andrew_Thaler