Deep-sea mining faces surprise risk of rocks catching fire

Photo: The ROV (remotely operated vehicle) Jason collecting two mineral samples from the seafloor at Escanaba Trough. Photo credit: USGS. Article by Cecilia Jamasmie. Mining.com – October 14, 2026. Research article: Scientific Reports.

Scientists at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have discovered that some metal-rich rocks recovered from the deep ocean can spontaneously combust when exposed to air and processed, raising unexpected safety concerns for a potential new mining industry. The finding follows a 2022 research expedition to the Escanaba Trough, off the Oregon–California border, where two of 57 hydrothermal rock samples ignited during laboratory processing. The reactions generated temperatures exceeding 100°C and completely oxidized the original material, according to a study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports. […]

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