Contents of metal cations exchange capacity of ore minerals in ferromanganese micronodules from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans

Results of experimental studies of ion exchange properties of manganese and iron minerals in micronodules from diverse bioproductive zones of the World Ocean were considered. It was found that sorption behavior of these minerals was similar to that of ore minerals from ferromanganese nodules and low-temperature hydrothermal crusts. The exchange complex of minerals in the micronodules includes the major (Na**+, K**+, Ca**2+, Mg**2+, and Mn**2+) and subordinate (Ni**2+, Cu**2+, Co**2+, Pb**2+, and others) cations. Reactivity of theses cations increases from Pb**2+ and Co**2+ to Na**+ and Ca**2+. Exchange capacity of micronodule minerals increases from alkali to heavy metal cations. Capacity of iron and manganese minerals in oceanic micronodules increases in the following series: goethite < goethite + birnessite < todorokite + asbolane-buserite + birnessite < asbolane-buserite + birnessite < birnessite + asbolane-buserite < birnessite + vernadite ~= Fe-vernadite + Mn-feroxyhyte. Obtained data supplement available information on ion exchange properties of oceanic ferromanganese sediments and refine the role of sorption processes in redistribution of metal cations at the bottom water - sediment interface during micronodule formation and growth.

Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from C.S.S. Hudson Cruise 19 (1967) stations

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.

Description of manganese deposits from the Oriente province in Cuba

Deposits of manganese ore have been found in five of the six provinces of Cuba and have been reported from the sixth. Only Oriente and Pinar del Rio provinces have more than a few known deposits and only the deposits of Oriente have yielded any appreciable amount of ore. In this area the Cobre formation, of late Cretaceous(?) to middle Eocene age, overlies the Vinent formation but their stratigraphie relations are unknown. The Cobre overlies unconformably the Habana(?) formation. The Cobre formation consists of andesitic, basaltic, and dacitic tuff, agglomerate, and lavas with minor amounts of marine clastic and limestone deposits, and a prominent limestone bed, the Charco Redondo limestone member, at the top of the formation. All productive manganese deposits of Oriente are in the Cobre formation, usually within a few tens of meters above or below the base of the Charco Redondo limestone member.

Description of manganese deposits from the Todoroki mine, Hokkaido area, Japan

Manganese deposits are abundant in various places in the Oshima Peninsula southwest of Hokkaido. This is particular the case of Todoroki Mine situated about 25 kilometers to the south-east of the Ginzan railway station in Siribesi Province. It consists of manganese beds intermixed with a tertiary volcanic tuff complex overlaying granite.