GEOCHEMISTRY OF MANGANESE NODULES IN THE NORTHERN CENTRAL PACIFIC

The contents of Mn, Fe, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb and Zn in manganese nodules and associated pelagic sediment from the Northern Central Pacific have been measured, and the correlations between the elements of the nodules and between the chemical composition and the sedimentary environments have been analyzed. It has been found that Cu, Ni and Zn are preferentially enriched in the Mn-oxide phases while Co and Pb in the Fe-oxide phases of the nodules. The elements within the same phase are positively correlated and the elements within different phases are negatively correlated. It is concluded that the elements in the Fe-oxide phase may have directly deposited from seawater while Mn-oxide phase elements are mainly derived from interstitial waters.