Minerals
The USGS has been studying marine minerals in seabed deposits since the 1970s, in support of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. USGS studies how and where minerals form in the seabed but with large areas still unsampled, it is still a frontier area for mineral research. USGS science supports prioritizing mineral resource research, mineral commodity assessments, and partnerships with other federal agencies to benefit our national economy, security and society.