COSMIC FLAKES IN MANGANESE NODULES

In addition to the well known cosmic spheres, micron-size metallic flakes have been extracted magnetically from Pacific Ocean manganese nodules. The flakes were individually studied by several techniques (LM, SEM, EMP and XRD) and were found to be composed of iron, iron-nickel and nickel-iron. In general, the flakes are agglomerates of micron to sub-micron flat particles loosely held together. The cosmic origin of these flakes is discussed with regard to chemical composition, crystallinity, agglomeration and comparable terrestrial minerals. This finding makes available an inexhaustible and readily accessible source of cosmic minerals. At the same time, it gives a direct clue to the mineralogical and chemical differences between meteorites and micrometeorites.