Mineral deposits appearance and Rockgrubs.

TheLordEternal

Okay, So i've heard a few grumbles about telling the different mineral deposits apart and how you have no idea what materials to find in them.
So what about shooting two flies with one gun and bringing in an earlier concept by changing the mineral deposits into Rockgrub nests?
The deposits could keep its rocky appearance, Only with small entrances added where the Rockgrubs flitter in and out. The nest takes the outwards appearance of the materials it contains, Being made from the minerals the Rockgrubs have filtered from the water and brought home to expand with.

This would also allow you to have a in-game explanation for respawning deposits, Being justified as Rockgrubs accumulating material to build their hive.
For those that don't like the idea of breaking a creatures home just to have materials it would be easy to say that the mineral outcroppings are actually only a small part of the nest and functions as a way to dispose of the Rockgrubs waste products, Which happens to be various compositions of metals and other resources, So breaking them do not affect the rest of the hive.

If you really wanted to take it another step, You could have the deposits grow as they accumulate minerals, Breaking off and starting the process all over again after a few days.
The brittle binding holding the deposits together shattering once detached, Causing the minerals to visually break apart into chunks and disperse in the ocean.

TL;DR?: Turn mineral deposits into underwater anthills.