What's New?
In the interest of developing a secure, stable supply of domestic critical minerals, BOEM has taken the first steps toward what could become the Atlantic's first-ever OCS minerals lease sale.
Atlantic OCS Critical Minerals
The Atlantic OCS contains two primary mineral deposit types: heavy mineral sands and phosphorites. The Blake Plateau also contains polymetallic nodules, but this area remains under Presidential Withdrawal until 2032 prohibiting leasing. Other areas offshore Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are comparatively underexplored and may host other deposits. Areas of the Atlantic OCS hold substantial potential for heavy mineral sand resources, which are essential for modern technology, manufacturing, and energy systems. Ongoing exploration and development of these resources can play a vital role in securing the U.S. supply chain for critical minerals, enhancing economic stability and national security.
BOEM manages a multi-step leasing process grounded in science, public engagement, and mineral and environmental stewardship.
Throughout the process, BOEM will also ensure full compliance with all applicable laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Coastal Zone Management Act.
We are actively collaborating with other federal agencies, like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other non-federal stakeholders organizations to map and characterize seabed mineral resources in the Atlantic OCS.
BOEM's Atlantic regional environmental studies and resource evaluation research play a crucial role in assisting future planning and decisions for critical minerals leasing and potential exploration and development.
Related Studies
BOEM has co-funded several studies to better understand these resources. Recent resource evaluation activities include:
2024 – A capacity assessment on the recovery of critical and economic minerals from sand used for coastal resilience projects (Nelson, M, et al.)
Analysis of critical and strategic mineral recovery from sand used for beach nourishment (Virginia Department of Energy Geology and Minerals Resources Program)
2023 - BOEM Resource Evaluation of Critical and Hard Offshore Mineral Programmatic Reference (RECHOMPR) (Aptim et al.)
A full list of related publications can be found at Virginia Mineral Activities page.