Highlights

• U.S. companies partner to develop first domestic deep-sea mineral collection and refinement program in federal waters near American Samoa
• Strategic collaboration aims to create 100% U.S. supply chain for rare earth and critical minerals through seabed nodule extraction
• Ambitious project faces potential regulatory, environmental, and economic challenges in emerging deep-sea mining industry

---

In a bold move aligning with the Trump administration’s April 2025 Executive Order on offshore resource development, ReElement Technologies (opens in a new tab) and Impossible Metals (opens in a new tab) have announced a strategic collaboration to build the first U.S.-based deep-sea nodule refinement program.

Rare Earth Exchanges (REEx) recently interviewed ReElement Technologies CEO which will be uploaded to the podcast (opens in a new tab) soon.

Under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Impossible Metals—known for its eco-conscious underwater robotics—and ReElement Technologies—positioned as America’s only commercial-scale rare earth separator—will integrate seabed nodule collection with domestic refining operations. Their goal: a vertically integrated, 100% U.S. supply chain for rare earths and critical minerals.

Key Elements of the Deal

• Feedstock: Polymetallic nodules containing copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements.
• Collection Site: U.S. federal waters near American Samoa.
• Processing Site: ReElement’s Indiana facility, specializing in ultra-pure, low-waste mineral refinement.
• Delivery Model: ReElement will toll-process materials for Impossible Metals’ customers.

This partnership builds on Impossible Metals' regulatory leadership in opening up deep-sea mining in U.S. waters and its planned 2026 launch of Eureka III—an autonomous nodule harvester designed to minimize disturbance to the marine ecosystem.

Critical Questions Still Unanswered

• Permitting Risks: Despite their progress with the Department of the Interior, will environmental pushback or legal delays derail seabed mining in U.S. waters?
• Economic Viability: How does the cost of seabed nodule refinement compare to terrestrial or recycled sources? This is not a trivial pursuit.
• End Buyers: Who exactly are the “customers” receiving these toll-processed materials? Defense primes? EV makers? The DoD?
• Environmental Data Transparency: Will either company release full lifecycle environmental impact data to validate their “sustainable” claims?

Investor Takeaway

This deal could signal the start of a transformative new resource frontier—one that secures U.S. independence in rare earth and battery metals from the seabed. But early-stage investors should weigh technological ambition against regulatory, environmental, and economic uncertainty.

For now, ReElement (via American Resources Corp, NASDAQ: AREC (opens in a new tab)) and Impossible Metals have planted the first flag in deep-sea U.S. minerals. Whether they strike industrial gold or regulatory gridlock remains to be seen.

—

SOURCE: ACCESS Newswire, “ReElement Technologies Corporation and Impossible Metals Announce Collaboration on First U.S. Deep Sea Nodule Refinement Program,” July 21, 2025