Mapping the Seafloor for Critical Mineral Resources

An underwater photo of round, black mineral-rich nodules on the ocean floor. — *Polymetallic nodules, such as those shown here, can occur on the ocean floor and are of interest for the critical minerals they contain. Credit: NOAA.*

NOAA maps the seafloor to develop and update nautical charts, inform coastal zone management, and characterize habitats, among many other uses of the data. Seafloor mapping data can also be used to help identify critical mineral deposits.

American Samoa Mapping Project

In January 2026, the National Ocean Service’s Office of Coast Survey announced a new three-month hydrographic survey project to map and characterize over 30,000 square nautical miles of federal waters off American Samoa. The baseline data obtained from this project will inform other federal agencies as to the location of critical mineral deposits and relative prospectivity of the project area. This effort is part of the Department of Commerce's implementation of the U.S. offshore critical minerals mapping plans as defined by Executive Order 14285.

Operations during the three-month survey period will include:

Seafloor mapping data collected throughout the entire survey area using ship-mounted multibeam sonars.
Seafloor imagery and higher-resolution mapping data collected using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) deployed throughout the survey area, conducting both long transects and focused grid surveys.
Geological samples collected by box coring at approximately 35 distributed sites within the survey area, selected based on near real-time mapping data collected during the project.

A bathymetric map, showing the American Samoa Exclusive Economic Zone and a designated survey area outlined against the rugged topography of the ocean floor. — *Survey area (black) in federal waters off American Samoa, determined as regions of prospectivity for polymetallic nodules within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. Credit: NOAA.*

Project Background

This project is part of the Department of Commerce's implementation of the U.S. offshore critical mineral mapping plans as defined by President Trump’s Executive Order 14285: Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources. These mapping plans identified priority areas of the seabed for mapping that are highly prospective for polymetallic nodules containing critical minerals, which includes the federal waters off American Samoa. Learn more about NOAA’s role in Deep Seabed Mineral Resources.

NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey is leading the project contract, and NOAA Ocean Exploration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the U.S. Geological Survey are providing additional scientific expertise and guidance.

The project builds on two NOAA Ocean Exploration-funded expeditions by the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute on Ocean Exploration Trust’s Exploration Vessel Nautilus, which included exploration in the eastern American Samoa Exclusive Economic Zone and deep surveys with AUV Sentry. Later in 2026, NOAA Ocean Exploration plans to bring NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to American Samoan waters to continue efforts to characterize the deep sea in this geopolitically important region, including with livestreamed dives from remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer.

While critical mineral deposits are a key focus of this work, seafloor mapping, exploration, and characterization led or supported by NOAA in the region will increase baseline understanding of the deep waters of American Samoa, stimulating further exploration and research as well as informing management activities and local decisions related to deep-sea resources and the broader marine environment.

Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll Mapping Project

In March 2026, the National Ocean Service’s Office of Coast Survey announced a new hydrographic survey project to map and characterize over 8,000 square nautical miles of federal waters off Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll onboard NOAA Ship Rainier. NOAA Ship Rainier is a hydrographic survey ship staffed by NOAA Corps Officers and professional mariners.

Data from this project will inform other federal agencies as to the location of critical mineral deposits and relative prospectivity of the project area. This effort is part of the Department of Commerce's implementation of the U.S. offshore critical minerals mapping plans as defined by Executive Order 14285.

Operations during the survey period will include:

Seafloor mapping data collected throughout the entire survey area using ship-mounted multibeam sonars.
Seafloor imagery and geological samples collected using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) from Orpheus Ocean, in partnership with the NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute.