(Table 2, Page 275) Elemental concentrations in manganese nodules used in seawater contact experiments

The gross changes in concentrations of several trace elements in seawater after contact with ferro-manganese particle suspensions has been determined. Cobalt, Fe, and Zn concentrations in the seawater were greatly increased after contact with the par¬ticles. The concentrations of Rb, U, Cs, Sb, and Ag were altered to a lesser degree by this treatment. Similar results were observed where seawater was con¬tacted with suspensions of pelagic sediments. Of the trace elements measured, cobalt and iron appear to be the best elemental indicators of the presence of manganese mining effluents in the ocean. The addi¬tions of the essential elements Co, Fe and Zn toge¬ther with nutrients from the bottom waters may pro¬duce increased biological productivity. However, the toxic trace metals, such as Hg, Cu and Cd which could enter ocean water from the nodules and sedi¬ment and which may be high in effluent-affected areas should be investigated before conclusions as to the likely impact can be reached. Trace element analysis of seawater samples collected at a Pacific Ocean manganese nodule dredging site showed high t race element concentrations, but these are believed to have resulted from contamination during sample collection or storage rather than from the dredging operations.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from R/V Bosei Maru Cruise GH72-2 stations

In 1972, the five years program 'Basic investigations for exploration of deep sea mineral resources' was laid out by the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry. The Geological Survey of Japan and the National Research Institute of Pollution and Resources undertook the first survey project. The survey team consisted of four geologists and a surveyor of the Geological Survey of Japan, and a mechanical, engineer and four mining engineers of National Research Institute of Polution and Resources. The survey started on November 11 using the "Bosei Maru" survey vessel (1100 tons) chartered from Tokai University. The cruise departed from Shimizu harbor to the Ponape and Guam islands, and terminated at the harbor of departure on December 11. The surveyed area was mainly covered the Mariana basin and the Magellan seamounts, and fifteen bottom samples were collected during the cruise. Ferromanganese nodules were obtained at several stations at a depth over 5000m.

(Table 1, page 126) Concentration of elements in Fe and Mn rich pisoliths (nodules) from Lake Storsjoen, South Norway

A detailed description of the ores of Lake Storsjoen was given by Vogt J. H. L., 1915 who pointed out that the ores may be divided into two principal types; first, iron ore with 2% or less of manganese (ex: Ertemalm), and, second, ores with manganese contents of up to 30% (ex: Korinter). The iron-rich ore sometimes occurs as a conglomerate embedded in manganese-rich ores, clearly demonstrating that two distinctly different precipitates are involved. In the iron-rich ore, a concentric structure is common of which light brown layers of loose, almost dusty material alternate with hard and brittle black layers, the thickness of each being 0.5 mm or less. The analyses presented in this paper seem to demonstrate that the composition of the sedimentary ores of Lake Storsjden could result from fluctuations in the composition of ground waters feeding the lake.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from various ship expeditions in the Atlantic Ocean from 1876 until 1911

The greater part of this Monograph is devoted to detailed descriptions of 1426 samples of deposits from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean stored in the Challenger Office, Edinburgh, which had been collected during thirty-five cruising expeditions between 1857 and 1911. The remaining part discusses the results of the work. The work of examining and describing in detail this abundant mass of material was in progress when the late Sir JOHN MURRAY met his death in March 1914. By that time about three-fourths of the descriptive work had been completed under his supervision. Sir John's trustees arranged for the completion of the descriptive work by Mr Chumley, and this was done in the Challenger Office during the two succeeding years. Later, after he had removed to Glasgow, Mr Chumley prepared the notes discussing the results. The trustees have pleasure in recording, on the suggestion of Mr Chumley, the courtesy of Dr G. W. Lee of the Geological Survey of Scotland, for help in determining many of the rarer mineral particles contained in the deposits.

(Table 2, page 607) Composition of manganese nodules in cores from Leg 16, Deep Sea Drilling Project

Buried manganese nodules or encrustations were encountered at five drill sites of Leg 16. Surface nodules were also sampled at two sites. With few exceptions, nodules within any one drill hole are fairly uniform in composition and are similar in composition to samples obtained previously from the eastern equatorial Pacific. Geochemical and paleontological evidence suggests that at least one of the buried samples was in situ when found and that at least one other was not. The remaining nodules may have fallen from the sediment surface to the positions in which they were found during the drilling process.

Geochemistry on manganese crusts from French Polynesia

The Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia is a Co-rich ferromanganese crust province. The NODCO I survey (1986) provided detailed data on Co-rich crusts in this environment through the exploration of a restricted zone in the vicinity of Niau Island on the southern flank of the archipelago. This flat zone is a fossil atoll which, under the action of subsidence and tectonic movements, has collapsed to a water depth of 1000 m. The plateau is partially filled with coralline sediments. Outcrops of ferromanganese crusts, associated with rare nodules and slabs, are located on the inner side of the coral reef which bounds the ancient lagoon. The successive episodes of plateau history have been recorded in the different growth periods of the ferromanganese crusts. The crusts, nodules and slabs belong to the same morphological, mineralogical and geochemical family. Cobalt contents vary from 0.7 to 1.3%. The highest values belong to the thinnest ferromanganese crusts which are located on the flanks of the plateau. Average Ni contents are about 0.5% and Cu contents about 0.1%; Pt contents vary from 0.2 to 1.3 ppm. Platinum and Co are enriched in the outermost oxide zone of the crusts. Poorly crystallized -MnO2 is the dominant mineralogical phase. Cobalt enrichment seems to be related to -MnO2 particle size. The greatest contents are located in the finest material where the particle size is less than 0.1 m. Cobalt-rich crusts of the Niau Zone have the same characteristics as the Co-rich crusts from the Equatorial North Pacific. They differ in original setting: the reefal environment in the Niau Zone is superficial, overlying a volcanic substrate.

(Table 2, page 10) Bulk spectroscopic, X-ray fluorescence and colorimetric analyses of samples from the San Pablo ferro-manganese pavement

The Bedford Institute of Oceanography provided ship time on the C.S.S. Hudson during the B.I.0. 1967 Metrology and IODAL Cruise for surveying two separate bottom features in the North Atlantic; the Flemish Cap and the San Pablo Seamount one of the Kelvin Seamounts (also known as the New England Seamounts) about 400 miles SSE of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Underwater photography, dredging, and drilling showed San Pablo seamount to have a very considerable covering of manganese deposit, which may be recoverable by mining. San Pablo Seamount was surveyed and sampled; good hauls were made both on the top and on the slopes, at various depths from 500-1000 fathoms; in all cases samples of an unusual stratified manganese-iron ore were recovered. In the hope of gaining additional information in the immediate sample area, one of the dredges had been previously modified to accommodate underwater photographic equipment. X-ray chemical analyses indicate that the ore contains 20 to 25 per cent MnO2, with similar amounts of Fe2O3. Since bottom photographs indicate that these deposits form a continuous cover 1 foot to 3 feet thick over most of the seamount, it is estimated that there are ore reserves in the order of 10 to 30 M tons above 1,000 fathoms.

Chemical composition of manganese micronodules from expedition VA-05/1 in the Pacific Ocean

A radioisotope energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) system has been used on board the German research vessel "Valdivia" during an exploration expedition in the northern equatorial Pacific in 1973. The instrumentation used consisted of an X-ray detection system incorporating a 30 mm2 effective-area Si (Li) detector with a measured energy resolution of 195 eV for Mn K alpha X-rays, standard nuclear electronics, a 1024-channel analyser and a data read-out unit. The X-ray spectra in the manganese-nodule samples were excited by a 30-mCi 238Pu source. The six elements Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn were analysed on board. Precision values for the analyses were less than 3% for Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn and about 5% for Co. A total amount of 350 analyses was carried out during a one-month cruise. Average contents of 190 analysed whole manganese-nodule samples from all the sampling sites of the covered area were 23.3% Mn, 6.7% Fe, 0.23% Co, 1.16% Ni, 0.94% Cu and 0.10% Zn. The average content of the base metals expressed as the sum of the Co, Ni, Cu and Zn contents was 2.48%. A linear relationship between Mn and Ni in all analysed samples, including whole manganese-nodule samples, zones of manganese nodules and manganese crusts, was observed. The Mn/Ni ratio calculated by regression analysis was 23.0. Zonal variations of the chemical contents of the six elements in the manganese nodules were found. A size classification of the manganese nodules has been suggested. Geochemical correlations of Cu and Ni versus Mn/Fe in the investigated samples are given.

Manganese nodule geochemistry from the Challenger Expedition

C. W. Gümbel received nodules from J. Murray which were collected at a depth of 2740 fathoms, between Japan and the Sandwich Islands, by the "Challenger" Expedition. They were either round or long in shape, with a dull, dirty-brown coloured surface, and enclosed fragments of pumice-stone, and more rarely teeth of sharks or fragments of mussels. They were analysed by A. Schwager.

Chemical composition of manganese nodules and a ferromanganese crust using different methods

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Kennecott Corporation conducted a number of activities in the evaluation of manganese nodule deposits as well as in their possible hydrometallurgy.

Analysis of manganese nodules in lakes of Scotland

During the "Challenger" Deep-Sea Exploring Expedition a great many peculiar-looking manganese nodules or concretions were dredged from the floor of the ocean at great depths, chiefly in the Red Clay areas of the Pacific. In the present paper we propose to point out the distribution of the oxides of manganese in the geological series of rocks, in fresh and sea water, and in marine deposits, with special reference to our explorations in the lochs of the west of Scotland; to give an account of investigations undertaken to ascertain the source of the manganese present in marine deposits in the form of the higher oxides, and thereafter to discuss the various views that have been advanced to explain the formation and distribution of manganese concretions in marine deposits in general.

Chemical composition of a concretion dredged from lake Madüsee (lake Miedwie, Poland)

This article describes the bottom sediments, lake ores and limestone bedrock dredged from lake Mad¸see in Pommerania now known as lake Miedwie in Poland.