Technology

How Deep-Sea Mining Works

Deep Sea Minerals Corp. (CSE: SEAS) (OTCQB: DSEAF) (FSE: X450) is advancing a strategic opportunity to secure deep-sea mineral rights through the appropriate regulatory process, aligned with U.S. national security, energy transition, and supply-chain independence priorities. Deep Sea Minerals Corp. does not own any proprietary subsea mining technology or specialized marine assets, and operational work is expected to be carried out by third-party technology provider.

Step-By-Step Process

Collect

Autonomous or remotely operated vehicles collect polymetallic nodules from the seafloor, using collector vehicles (by robotic arms or dredging systems).

Lift

Collected nodules are aggregated and moved up on a riser system or buoyancy engines to the surface for continuous offshore operations.

Transportation & Process

Dewatered nodules are shipped to shore for metals extraction and refining. Processing typically involves initial concentration or smelting to produce intermediate metal alloys or oxides and hydrometallurgical refining to obtain battery-grade nickel, cobalt, and copper products, along with manganese silicate or other byproducts used in industrial applications.

Treatment

Initial: Using standard rotary kiln to calcine the nodules, removing impurities, followed by treatment in an electrical arc furnace to form an alloy. The alloy can then be sulphidised to form a nickel copper cobalt matte. Secondary: a series of chemical leaching operations involving sulfuric acid and ammonia to produce salts, which can then be electrolyzed to copper cathode and nickel sulphate.