1873 First Nodules Found

Sailors aboard HMS Challenger haul dark, metal-studded “potatoes” from four kilometers down. Scientists realise the seafloor is not just mud but a warehouse of nickel, copper and manganese.

1960s - 70s The Manganese Rush

Cold-War research subs and early deep-tow cameras prove nodules blanket huge stretches of the Pacific. In 1974 the CIA even built the giant ship Glomar Explorer under the cover story of mining nodules while on a secret mission.

1982 Ocean Rules Drafted

The United Nations finalises the Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). A special section says minerals beyond national borders belong to all humankind and must be managed by an international body.

1994 International Seabed Authority Born

UNCLOS enters into force and the ISA sets up in Kingston, Jamaica, to licence exploration and write mining rules.

2001 - 2015 Exploration Era

The ISA signs its first contracts. Nations from China to Belgium map millions of square kilometers of the Clarion–Clipperton Zone (CCZ), collecting core samples and biology data.

2019 Draft Mining Code Published

After years of workshops, the ISA releases a 100-page rulebook draft covering royalties, environmental limits and inspection rights. Debate over final wording begins.

2021 “Two-Year Rule” Triggered

The island nation of Nauru formally asks the ISA to finish the Mining Code within two years so its contractor, NORI, can apply to mine nodules. The clock puts global pressure on negotiators.

2022. First Full-Depth Pilot

The Metals Company and Allseas run a crawler–riser system in the CCZ, lifting about 4,500 tons of nodules in one continuous test — the most complete trial since the 1970s.

2025. Regulatory Crunch Time

The ISA’s 30th session aims to lock in final environmental and payment chapters. Contractors line up engineering plans; environmental groups call for a pause. The next few years will reveal whether deep-sea mining becomes a commercial reality or stays an unfinished dream.