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Scientists Collected Deep-Sea Rocks. They Spontaneously Caught Fire in The Lab.
Scientists investigating the possibility of a 'gold rush' on the bottom of the ocean have hit upon an unforeseen 'landmine'.
Researchers at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are now warning that some deep-sea minerals may spontaneously combust when they are brought to the surface.
In 2022, that happened to two samples of metal-sulfide rocks collected from the deep seafloor.
The event caused temperatures above 100 °C in the lab and completely oxidized the original samples.
An article on the discovery, published in Scientific Reports, is being shared early, before full editing, to give the public faster access to new research.
According to the USGS, this is a "potential hazard that could merit special consideration if deep-sea mining of seafloor massive sulfide deposits moves forward".
Deep-sea sulfide minerals can spontaneously heat and combust when exposed to air
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Findings from Escanaba Trough, a seafloor spreading center offshore of the Oregon/California border, highlight a potential hazard that could merit special consideration if deep-sea mining of seafloor massive sulfide deposits moves forward.
A new USGS-led study found that some metal sulfide-rich rocks collected from Escanaba Trough, a hydrothermal area along the southern Gorda Ridge off the U.S. West Coast, underwent spontaneous combustion during laboratory processing. The finding identifies a potential hazard that could be important to understand if seafloor massive sulfide deposits are ever mined.
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Xinhua photos of the day
China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong prepares to dive after safety inspection in the western Pacific Ocean, Oct. 10, 2026. China's research vessel Deep Sea No. 1, carrying manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong, arrived at East Caroline Basin in the western Pacific Ocean on Saturday for deep-sea scientific research.
This marks the 466th dive of Jiaolong, with a planned diving depth of about 4,500 meters. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
People relax by the shore of Lake Balaton in Siofok, Hungary, Oct. 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)
People capture sea views at sunrise in Rongcheng, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)
Guests visit the Luoyang Museum in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 10, 2026.
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