Similarities between Mn,Ni and Co contents of deep-sea clays and manganese nodules from the south-west region of the North Atlantic

Recently published distribution patterns have shown that in the Atlantic Ocean Mn, Ni and Co tend to be concentrated in those deep-sea sediments deposited in a central zone which extends down the length of the ocean. The present paper shows that these trace elements are also concentrated in certain clays from the south-west region of the North Atlantic. This region is rich in manganese nodules, and analyses reveal that the non-lithogenous fractions of some of the clays approximate to those of the nodules in composition. It is suggested that these clays have acquired their relatively high concentration of non-lithogenous trace elements from sea water by processes associated with the formation of manganese nodules.