These distinct-looking potato-sized formations, known scientifically as manganese nodules, contain precious metals that could literally help sustain the ever-growing demand for battery materials.

Here, in an area of five million square kilometres, manganese nodules are abundantly found on the seabed. Their metal content offers a potential for commercial deep-sea mining. In recent years mineral ...

Now, plans are afoot to begin trial collection of the manganese nodules, or mineral concretions, from the Pacific Ocean site as early as 2025 with a view toward commercialization. Manganese ...