Major and trace element distributions in manganese nodules and micronodules as well as abyssal clay from the Clarion-Clipperton abyssal plain,Northeast Pacific |
| |
Authors: | O G Duliu V Alexe J Moutte S A Szobotca |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Atomic & Nuclear Physics, University of Bucharest, P.O. Box MG-11, 077125 Magurele, (Ilfov), Romania;(2) Geological Institute of Romania, 1 Caransebes Street, 012271 Bucharest, Romania;(3) Ecole des Mines, 158 Cours Fauriel, 42100 Saint Etienne, France;(4) National Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology, 23-25 Dimitrie Onciu Street, 024053 Bucharest, Romania |
| |
Abstract: | The contents of seven major components (TiO2, Fe2O3, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O and P2O5) and 15 trace elements (Sc, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Eu, Yb and Th) were determined by ICP-AE spectrometry
in 27 samples of manganese nodules, micronodules as well as abyssal clay collected by dredging from an area of nearly 1,9802
nautical miles in the central Clarion-Clipperton abyssal plain at a depth of about 4,500 m. Statistical analyses were used
to compare among individual as well as pooled datasets, in addition to different indicators such as La/Th, Ni/Cu and LREE/HREE
ratios for the Clarion-Clipperton samples, as well as between these and corresponding values for the upper continental crust
(UCC), North America Shale Composite (NASC), and igneous Indian and Pacific Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalts (MORBs). The results show
significant correlations between major components in the Clarion-Clipperton samples and Pacific Ocean MORB, whereas trace
elements (excepting Ni and Cu) correlate better with the UCC and NASC. There is also depletion in LREEs, together with a Ce
negative anomaly for all Clarion-Clipperton samples. The nodule, micronodule and abyssal clay datasets each reveal typical
clusters of components such as P2O5 and Y, La, Nd, Eu, Tb, or Ni and Cu. Compared to abyssal clay, the nodule as well as micronodules show significant enrichment
in Ni and Cu; nevertheless, an essentially constant Ni/Cu ratio indicates that all samples come from the sediment surface.
The distributions of major components as well as trace elements for the Clarion-Clipperton samples present, to different degrees,
characteristics common to both the upper continental crust and Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt, strongly implying a hydrothermal origin,
most probably from East Pacific Rise material transported by the Pacific North Equatorial Current. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|