Abstract: Suboceanic particulate solids containing useful metal values are recovered from ocean floors by extending a recovery tube from above an ocean surface to the ocean floor and confining a column of sea water therein, injecting a pressurized gas into the base of said tube, while separately contemporaneously injecting thereat an aqueous solution of at least one water-soluble, high molecular weight suspension enhancing polymer, whereby forming a diluted dispersion of particulate ocean floor solids and propelling same to the ocean surface, and there recovering said particulate solids from the dilute dispersion.