An Extraordinary Resource
Nodules in the
Cook Islands
Cook Islands polymetallic nodules, predominantly small, round, mostly golf ball-shaped mineral deposits sit unattached and unburied on deep abyssal plains on top of the sediment at between 4,000 to 6,000 meters depth. They can be harvested without any digging and minimal impact to the surrounding seabed or water column. The nodules are found in abundance in the deepest waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Cook Islands, a sovereign country with the world's most advanced legal regime governing seabed minerals. They are found there in higher concentrations than almost anywhere else in the world. Unlike other undersea mineral deposits (such as Polymetallic Crusts and Seafloor Sulphide deposits - which require invasive extraction methods that will likely have significant environmental impact), nodules can be harvested using a collector system that simply lifts them off the seafloor and then transports them to the surface. The technology CIC is proposing for nodule collection will minimize disturbance to the seabed, not emit noise or lights in the water column, and not generate plumes or returned water at the surface or in the mid-ocean where the majority of biomass resides.
Rich in Critical Metals
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Polymetallic nodules in the Cook Islands deep ocean range in size from a grape to a potato, but mostly golf ball size in shape and are found far from any of the nation’s islands in the deepest abyssal zone. They contain key critical minerals, including cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, titanium, iron, and rare earth elements – which are all necessary for battery production, renewable energy infrastructure, and other high-tech equipment. ​
Lower Environmental
and Social Cost
Current research suggests an expected 70-99% reduction of environmental impacts on a life-cycle basis as compared to terrestrial mining—including near-zero solid processing waste/tailings and 90% less CO equivalent emissions compared to land-based metal mining.
Deep ocean mineral harvesting would require no child labor, forced labor nor direct disruption of the indigenous population, culture. It would avoid the extreme environmental impacts associated with terrestrial mines such as deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution/overuse and landscape alteration.
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Abundant
The nodules cover vast areas of the ocean floor in the Cook Islands, featuring some of the highest abundances in the world. There is more cobalt in the Cook Islands abyssal zone than all terrestrial cobalt reserves in the world.
Secure
The nodules are located within the EEZ of the Cook Islands, which is a stable sovereign parliamentary democracy which has diplomatic relations with 61 nations. The nation has developed a comprehensive set of laws and regulations to govern the seabed minerals industry.
