A group of scientists, while conducting a research on the Atlantic Ocean floor, were surprised when the instrument, which was sent to the ocean floor, had stopped working.

But they were more surprised by what they saw after bringing the instrument out of the water. 

The net of the devise was filled with heavy metallic balls, and the instrument’s underwater photographs showed a large field of manganese nodes. According to researchers, these are the largest concentration of manganese ever found in the Atlantic Ocean.

Scientists note that the process of the formation of these nodes is still a mystery, Gismeteo reported. To note, such nodes may contain rare elements that are used in the manufacturing of smartphones and several other complex electronic devices.