The Role of Primary-Producer-Mediated Organic Complexation in Regional Variation in the Supply of Mn,Fe, Co,Cu, Ni and Zn to Oceanic,Non-Hydrothermal Ferromanganese Crusts and Nodules

Oceanic, non-hydrothermal ferromanganese crusts and nodules are variably enriched in Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. Comparison of the content of these elements in crusts and nodules with the level of primary productivity in the South Pacific Ocean suggests that primary-producer-mediated complexation of several of these elements by organic ligands in solution may contribute to explaining a pattern of distinctive associations observed between compositional variations for these elements in these deposits and variations in the level of primary productivity.     

Megabenthic recolonization in an experimentally disturbed abyssal manganese nodule area 1

The near total removal of manganese nodules during commercial deep‐sea mining will destroy the habitat of the benthic hard‐bottom fauna within the mined areas and result in the formation of a soft‐bottom community of lower diversity. In 1989 the first large‐scale and long‐term experiment, DISCOL, was initiated in the abyssal tropical southeastern Pacific Ocean to study the impact of disturbances similar to ocean mining on the deep‐sea fauna. The megabenthic assemblage and the recolonization of the disturbed area were monitored during three cruises of the German research vessel SONNE by use of an Ocean Floor Observation System with real‐time TV and “photo‐on‐command” capabilities. The results of the image analyses of the baseline and three postimpact studies demonstrate not only a direct impact within the disturber tracks, but also an apparent impact on areas that were not primarily disturbed. Commercial mining will create a sediment plume, which will drift away with near‐bottom currents and also affect animals outside the mined areas. Reduction of environmental effects remains an important objective during development of future nodule collector systems.     

The role of rare rainstorms in the formation of calcic soil horizons on alluvial surfaces in extreme deserts

Soils in similar geomorphic settings in hyperarid deserts (< 50 mm yr⁻¹) should have similar characteristics because a negative moisture balance controls their development. However, Reg soils in the hyperarid southern Negev and Namib deserts are distinctly different. Soils developed on stable alluvial surfaces with only direct input of rainfall and dust depend heavily on rainfall characteristics. Annual rainfall amount can be similar (15-30 mm), but storm duration can drastically alter Reg soil properties in deserts. The cooler fall/winter and dry hot summers of the southern Negev Desert with a predominance brief (≤ 1 day) rainstorms result in gypsic-saline soils without any calcic soil horizon. Although the Namib Desert receives only 50-60% of the southern Negev annual rainfall, its rainstorm duration is commonly 2-4 days. This improves leaching of the top soil under even lower annual rainfall amount and results in weeks-long grass cover. The long-term cumulative effect of these rare rain-grass relationships produces a calcic-gypsic-saline soil. The development of these different kinds of desert soils highlights the importance of daily to seasonal rainfall characteristics in influencing soil-moisture regime in deserts, and has important implications for the use of key desert soil properties as proxies in paleoclimatology.     

多金属结核粒径分形特征初步研究

通过对东太平洋中国开辟区东、西两区的多金属结核进行粒径分析,发现其粒径分布有分形特征。无缆取样结核粒径分形有着上、下限,虽然在小粒径上没有分形关系,但却存在着另一种确定的线性关系。说明东、西区结核在粒径、重量等分布上有着客观的一致性。通过分形分析得到了结核空间分布、粒径和重量分布的线性方程,对多金属结核矿藏储量和集矿机设计具有一定的意义。     

东太平洋不同海域多金属结核差异的主控因素

本文以ＤＹ８５－４ 航次在东太平洋的调查为基础,概述了多金属结核在东西两海区的差异;分析了影响这种差异的因素;着重探讨了多金属结核的丰度、品位、覆盖率、Ｍｎ／Ｆｅ、与伴生沉积物、断裂带、火山、侵入岩的关系。发现造成两区结核差异的因素很多,但起主控作用的是断块、火山、岩浆、热液等活动所带来的物质及对海底物理化学环境的影响。     

Origin of spheroidal chert nodules, Drunka Formation (Lower Eocene), Egypt

Chert nodules of the Drunka Formation (Lower Eocene) are mostly spherical, have diameters from 40 to 120 cm, are quasi-uniformly spaced 2–3 m apart in the plane of bedding, have concentric internal structure and, except for rare small (<6 cm) solid chert nodules, are less than 85% chertified. Nodules formed after moderate alteration of limestone by meteoric water (δ¹⁸O_calcite = –4 to –8‰) at shallow (<100 m) burial depths; more extensive alteration of limestone (δ¹⁸O = –10 to –16‰) by meteoric water followed nodule growth. Chertification was by low-temperature meteoric water (δ¹⁸O_quartz = +18‰ in margins to +22‰ in nuclei) at shallow burial depths. Meteoric water may have invaded the Drunka Formation in association with shelf progradation during the Early Eocene, or during the development of a Middle Eocene unconformity. Replacement of carbonate mud by microcrystalline quartz was the dominant chertification process, but fossils were replaced in part by fine-grained equant megaquartz, quartzine and chalcedony; the last of these occurs in places as beekite. Opal A-secreting marine organisms are the inferred source of silica, but none are preserved. There is no compelling evidence of an opal-CT precursor, so quartz may have formed by direct precipitation. Self-organization processes of enigmatic character established the spacing pattern of the nodules and also the Liesegang-banded internal structure of the chert nodules. Nodules grew chiefly by diffusive supply of silica, although one locality has elongate nodules that grew when there was some porewater advection. Chertification patterns and δ¹⁸O values of both calcite and quartz indicate that nodule growth was complex and variable. Some nodules probably grew from the centre outwards. Many nodules, however, initially grew simultaneously across the entire nodule, but late-stage growth was predominantly at the outer margins or at selective internal sites.     

南海西北缘多金属结核地球化学及其与大洋结核的对比

多金属结核化学成分组成的差异能够反映其赋存环境的差异与变化,也能够指示结核的成因.利用ICP-MS方法分析了分布于南海西北陆缘、太平洋、印度洋等不同区域的多金属结核样品的地球化学组成,并对其特征进行了对比.研究数据显示,南海西北陆缘多金属结核富Fe、Si、REE,而Mn、Co、Cu、Ni含量低于大洋结核,轻稀土元素(LREE)更为富集.依据结核TMn/TFe的比值特征以及w(Mn)-w(Fe)-w(Cu Ni)三组特征显示,南海结核和太平洋海山结核符合水成成因,太平洋海盆结核属成岩成因,印度洋结核具有成岩和水成双重成因.与太平洋、印度洋等大洋型结核不同,南海结核元素组成中,标识陆源物质来源的Fe、Si、REE、Al等元素含量丰富,具有典型的边缘海特征,反映了南海结核成长发育的过程中,边缘海独特的沉积条件和多变的古海洋环境因素对其产生了重要的影响.