American Metal says US seabed mining exploration license application advances

Oct 16 (Reuters) — Deep-sea mining startup American Metal said on Friday that US regulators have certified its application for a license to explore for critical minerals in the Pacific Ocean, marking the next step in its bid to mine the seabed. Here are the details: • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration certified two applications from American Metal's subsidiaries, SeaX and American Metal Resources, to explore 104,000 square miles (270,000 square km) in part of the Pacific in international waters known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, or CCZ. • The seafloor, especially in parts of the Pacific, is covered by potato-shaped rocks known as polymetallic nodules that are filled with nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese. • NOAA will now complete an environmental study as a necessary next step for American Metal to obtain the exploration licenses. That process could involve a public hearing and may not be finalized until next year. • The exploration license would allow the company to study the CCZ and determine where it would like to apply to commercially mine nodules. • The company had the option of simultaneously applying for exploration and commercial mining permits, but