Tonga's Clarion-Clipperton Zone

The Tonga Clarion-Clipperton Zone is a region in the central Pacific Ocean known for its rich deposits of manganese nodules—rocky materials containing valuable metals like nickel, cobalt, and copper. This area is of interest for deep-sea mining due to its potential mineral resources, which are important for technologies like batteries. Situated near Tonga, the zone lies in international waters, raising environmental concerns about the impact of mining activities on deep-sea ecosystems. Efforts are ongoing to balance resource extraction with environmental protection and sustainable management.