EEZ

A variety of different countries are exploring for subsea minerals in their Exclusive Economic Zones. This is a list of the 11 most interesting to watch!

A large polymetallic nodule field has been located approximately 1800km southeas of mainland Japan in the Japanese EEZ. It contains around 230million tons of dense nodules with high grades of Cobalt and Copper, making it very commercially attractive.

Subsea minerals have been sampled in the EEZs of many Pacific Nations, indicating that deep-sea mining industries may be possible in many different states.

The Cook Islands has tremendous resources of polymetallic nodules and fascinating bathymetry. This 3D model shows the Cook Islands, bathymetry data, and the license areas.

Assessment of the mineral resources located in various license blocks in the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone

Both the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and the Cook Islands EEZ contain polymetallic nodules that appear superficially similar. However, there are differences in composition between the two zones that critically impact project economics.

Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) grant states special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, and so offer an alternate means of licensing sea bed mining.