Escanaba Trough

New samples collected by the USGS from the Escanaba Trough, a deep sea volcanic basin off the US West Coast, point to a combustion hazard when seafloor massive sulfide rocks are handled. The finding matters as interest grows in mining these mineral deposits, since sulfide materials can heat or ignite during storage and transport.

USGS scientists have found that rock samples collected from the Escanaba Trough, a deep-sea hydrothermal area off the US West Coast, can pose a combustion hazard when handled on deck. Seafloor massive sulfide rocks, rich in metal sulfides, can heat or ignite when exposed to air, raising safety questions for research crews and for future seabed mining operations. The finding is drawing attention as interest in deep-sea mineral exploration grows.