The paper discusses the latest techniques proposed for mining minerals from the deep ocean. Deep ocean is defined as the sea beyond the continental shelf, particularly areas of the sea floor exceeding 1200 ft in depth. The three principal deep-ocean minerals having economic potential in the immediate future are identified. Four recently proposed advanced deep-ocean mining concepts are presented. Use of the air-lift pump as a viable mining method is discussed and a large-scale air-lift pump experiment conducted in an abandoned mine shaft at Galax, Virginia is described. The principal features of the conversion of a small C1-M-AV1 type cargo ship to a deep-ocean mining prototype vessel, RV Deepsea Miner, is outlined.