Sources of gallium in ferromanganese crusts from the Sea of Japan

Possible sources of gallium in hydrothermal-sedimentary ferromanganese crusts of the Belyaevsky Seamount (Central Basin, Sea of Japan) are considered. Studies with successive selective leaching have shown that ~ 80% of Ga are present in the manganese fraction. The Changbaishan Volcano ash with up to 35.3 ppm Ga has been found in the marine sediment column located in the immediate vicinity of the Belyaevsky Seamount. This suggests that Ga of the Fe–Mn crusts of the seamount was supplied with the ash of volcanic rocks containing up to 300 ppm Ga.     

The REE species and their distribution in ferromanganese crusts in the Sea of Japan

Polished sections of ferromanganese crusts on underwater rises in the Sea of Japan were studied with a JXA8100 microprobe analyser. Mineral phases of REE have been detected. They have Ln₂O₃ chemical composition, where Ln is La–Ce–Pr–Nd, La–Ce–Nd, or, much more rarely, La–Ce and La–Ce–Pr. With regard to the same chemical composition of REE grains in the ore crusts and basalts from Medvedev Volcano, it has been concluded that these REE were supplied during postvolcanic gas–hydrothermal processes.     

Composition and distribution of REE in ferromanganese crusts of the Belyaevsky and Medvedev seamounts in the Sea of Japan

This paper presents the results of the integrated study of ferromanganese crusts from the Belyaevsky (Central Basin) and Medvedev (Honshu Basin) seamounts from the Sea of Japan. The study of the mineral composition using powder diffraction and optical and electron microscopy showed that the crusts are made up of todorokite, birnessite, and pyrolusite minerals typical of hydrothermal ferromanganese deposits of the World Ocean. The composition of the ferromanganese crusts from the Sea of Japan was determined by ICP-MS and ICP-OES. The contents of Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ni, and other major and trace elements indicate the hydrothermal genesis of the crusts. The obtained data on the composition of ferromanganese crusts of the Sea of Japan, as well as their comparison with different types of deposits of the World Ocean, suggest the endogenic genesis of the studied crusts. However, the REE and Y distribution patterns testify to a significant admixture of hydrogenic matter, which participated in the growth of ferromanganese crusts from the Belyaevsky and Medvedev seamounts.     

Ferromanganese crusts from submarine volcanoes of backarc basins as a new genetic type of gallium deposits

Study of the material composition of Fe-Mn crusts from submarine rises in the central part of the Sea of Japan, with modern precision methods applied, has yielded a high (up to 854 g/t) concentration of gallium contained in sorbed form. The new data obtained have allowed a new genetic type of gallium deposits—hydrothermal-sedimentary—to be distinguished.     

Mineralogy and chemistry of ferromanganese crusts from the Atlantic Ocean

The mineral and chemical compositions of a set of crust samples collected from the North, Central and South Atlantic were examined by means of analytical electron microscopy and ICP-MS, chemical, and microchemical elemental analysis. The dominant mineral phases of the crusts are vernadite, asbolane, and goethite, with minor ferrihydrite, and rare hematite and feroxyhyte. The samples show wide variability in major and trace elements; however, their characteristic geochemical signatures indicate hydrogenetic origin. A comparison between the compositions of oceanic hydrogenetic and hydrothermal crusts and metalliferous hydrothermal sediments from different ocean areas suggests that the geochemical approach may be insufficient in some cases and fail to identify a hydrothermal input in ferromanganese crusts of a mixed composition.     

Helium isotopes in ferromanganese crusts from the central Pacific Ocean

Helium isotopes have been measured in samples of two ferromanganese crusts (VA13/2 and CD29-2) from the central Pacific Ocean. With the exception of the deepest part of crust CD29-2 the data can be explained by a mixture of implanted solar- and galactic cosmic ray-produced (GCR) He, in extraterrestrial grains, and radiogenic He in wind-borne continental dust grains. ⁴He concentrations are invariant and require retention of less than 12% of the in situ He produced since crust formation. Loss has occurred by recoil and diffusion. High ⁴He in CD29-2 samples older than 42 Ma are correlated with phosphatization and can be explained by retention of up to 12% of the in situ-produced ⁴He. ³He/⁴He of VA13/2 samples varies from 18.5 to 1852 R_a due almost entirely to variation in the extraterrestrial He contribution. The highest ³He/⁴He is comparable to the highest values measured in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and micrometeorites (MMs). Helium concentrations are orders of magnitude lower than in oceanic sediments reflecting the low trapping efficiency for in-falling terrestrial and extraterrestrial grains of Fe-Mn crusts. The extraterrestrial ³He concentration of the crusts rules out whole, undegassed 4-40 μm diameter IDPs as the host. Instead it requires that the extraterrestrial He inventory is carried by numerous particles with significantly lower He concentrations, and occasional high concentration GCR-He-bearing particles.     

Noble metals in the bottom sediments of the Chukchi Sea

Abundance of noble metals (NM) and bulk chemical composition have been studied in bottom sediments of the Chukchi Sea. Distribution of NM and their correlation with major and trace elements in the sediments have been analyzed using multicomponent statistics. It was established that the average contents of NM in the bottom sediments of the Chukchi Sea significantly exceed those both in shelf terrigenous sediments and stratisphere. Osmium and iridium enrich mixed and pelitic sediments relative to shallow-water areas and their influx is presumably determined by erosion of coastal and bottom loose deposits. High Ag, Ru, Au, and Pt contents were identified in the clayey sediments enriched in biogenic elements in the individual areas of the Southern Chukchi plain (Chukchi sea) confined to the intersection zones of submeridional and sublatitudinal structures of the graben-rift system, which was formed in the Mesozoic and activated in the late Cenozoic time.     

Peculiarities of the distribution of rare-earth elements and yttrium in mineral phases of the ferromanganese crusts from the Detroit guyot (Pacific Ocean)

The concentrations of rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY) were first determined in four major mineral fractions of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts (CMC) from the Detroit guyot at the northern latitudes of the Pacific Ocean. It was shown that REY in the CMC from these latitudes are mainly adsorbed by the manganese phase unlike the crusts of the equatorial part of the ocean where iron hydroxides are the key REY sorbents from seawater. This is caused by the variations in the hydrochemical characteristics of seawater with the latitude of the CMC formation.     

Long-term records of erosional change from marine ferromanganese crusts

Ferromanganese crusts from the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans record the Nd and Pb isotope compositions of the water masses from which they form as hydrogenous precipitates. The¹⁰Be/⁹Be-calibrated time series for crusts are compared to estimates based on Co-contents, from which the equatorial Pacific crusts studied are inferred to have recorded ca. 60 Ma of Pacific deep water history. Time series of ɛNd show that the oceans have maintained a strong provinciality in Nd isotopic composition, determined by terrigenous inputs, over periods of up to 60 Ma. Superimposed on the distinct basin-specific signatures are variations in Nd and Pb isotope time series which have been particularly marked over the last 5 Ma. It is shown that changes in erosional inputs, particularly associated with Himalayan uplift and the northern hemisphere glaciation have influenced Indian and Atlantic Ocean deep water isotopic compositions respectively. There is no evidence so far for an imprint of the final closure of the Panama Isthmus on the Pb and Nd isotopic composition in either Atlantic or Pacific deep water masses.     

Composition and characteristics of the ferromanganese crusts from the western Arctic Ocean

Layered ferromanganese crusts collected by dredge from a water depth range of 2770 to 2200 m on Mendeleev Ridge, Arctic Ocean, were analyzed for mineralogical and chemical compositions and dated using the excess ²³⁰Th technique. Comparison with crusts from other oceans reveals that Fe-Mn deposits of Mendeleev Ridge have the highest Fe/Mn ratios, are depleted in Mn, Co, and Ni, and enriched in Si and Al as well as some minor elements, Li, Th, Sc, As and V. However, the upper layer of the crusts shows Mn, Co, and Ni contents comparable to crusts from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Growth rates vary from 3.03 to 3.97 mm/Myr measured on the uppermost 2 mm. Mn and Fe oxyhydroxides (vernadite, ferroxyhyte, birnessite, todorokite and goethite) and nonmetalliferous detrital minerals characterize the Arctic crusts. Temporal changes in crust composition reflect changes in the depositional environment. Crust formation was dominated by three main processes: precipitation of Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides from ambient ocean water, sorption of metals by those Fe and Mn phases, and fluctuating but large inputs of terrigenous debris.     

Phase associations and potential selective extraction methods for selected high-tech metals from ferromanganese nodules and crusts with siderophores

Deep-sea ferromanganese deposits contain a wide range of economically important metals. Ferromanganese crusts and nodules represent an important future resource, since they not only contain base metals such as Mn, Ni, Co, Cu and Zn, but are also enriched in critical or rare high-technology elements such as Li, Mo, Nb, W, the rare earth elements and yttrium (REY). These metals could be extracted from nodules and crusts as a by-product to the base metal production. However, there are no proper separation techniques available that selectively extract certain metals out of the carrier phases. By sequential leaching, we demonstrated that, except for Li, which is present in an easily soluble form, all other high-tech metals enriched in ferromanganese nodules and crusts are largely associated with the Fe-oxyhydroxide phases and only to subordinate extents with Mn-oxide phases. Based on this fact, we conducted selective leaching experiments with the Fe-specific organic ligand desferrioxamine-B, a naturally occurring and ubiquitous siderophore. We showed by leaching of ferromanganese nodules and crusts with desferrioxamine-B that a significant and selective extraction of high-tech metals such as Li, Mo, Zr, Hf and Ta is possible, while other elements like Fe and the base metals Mn, Ni, Cu, Co and Zn are not extracted to large extents. The set of selectively extracted elements can be extended to Nb and W if Mn and carbonate phases are stripped from the bulk nodule or crust prior to the siderophore leach by e.g. a sequential leaching technique. This combination of sequential leaches with a siderophore leach enhanced the extraction to 30–50% of each Mo, Nb, W and Ta from a mixed type Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) nodule and 40–80% from a diagenetic Peru Basin nodule, whilst only 5–10% Fe and even less Mn are extracted from the nodules. Li is extracted to about 60% from the CCZ nodule and a maximum of 80% Li is extracted from the Peru Basin nodule.Our pilot work on selective extraction of high-tech metals from marine ferromanganese nodules and crusts showed that specific metal-binding organic ligands may have promising potential in future processing technologies of these oxide deposits.     

太平洋海底富钴结壳中的烃类有机质及其成因意义

用气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联测方法测定了中西太平洋海底海山富钴结壳中的可溶有机质,对其丰度、生源构成、沉积环境、成熟度等方面进行了初步的探讨.富钴结壳的烃类生物标志化合物大多具成熟烃特征,个别具低成熟烃特点."A"/C高达9.81～21.15,显示出运移烃的特征;藿烷C31-R(S JR)为0.43～0.46,Tm/(Tm Ts)为0.40～0.59,C30αβ藿烷/(αβ藿烷 βα莫烷)为0.85～0.89,C29αβ藿烷/(αβ藿烷 βα莫烷)为0.81～0.85,c29甾烷20S/(20S 20R)为0.45～0.60,从而计算出Rsc(%)为0.73%～0.81%,个别达到1.06%;C29αββ/(αββ ααα)为0.35～0.42.甾烷丰度顺序为C29甾烷＞C27甾烷＞C28甾烷,同时检出了孕甾烷和4-甲基甾烷,重排甾烷三角图显示该有机质为Ⅱ型.Pr/Ph值介于0.35～0.82,显示植烷优势.说明烃类形成于强还原环境.链状烷烃、类异戊二烯烷烃、萜烷、甾烷化合物的组成和分布都说明茵藻类低等水生生物和陆源高等植物混合生源输入.洋底热液活动是富钴结壳中有机质热演化的重要热源.有机质在特定的海底条件下生成,并被运移到海山上,通过扩散和浸粢由外层进入结壳.     

Ore mineralization in volcanic rocks from the submarine rises of the Sea of Japan

The electron microprobe investigation of volcanic rocks from the submarine rises of the Sea of Japan revealed for the first time numerous inclusions of small grains containing metals (Cu, Zn, Sn, Ni, Pb, As, Cr, W, Ti, Ta, Fe, and Ag), mainly as native elements, intermetallic compounds, phosphides, oxides, sulfides, and sulfates. These grains are usually confined to the walls of microscopic fractures and pores or fill microscopic cavities and interstices in the groundmass and in rock-forming minerals. Taking into account that native metals, intermetallic compounds, and phosphides are indicative of a high-temperature gaseous fluid, it can be supposed that such a fluid was the source of metals.     

Trace element and PGE distribution in layered ferromanganese crusts

A collection of layered ferromanganese ores (27 samples) from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was studied. Trace element and PGE contents were determined layer-by-layer (up to 10 microlayers) in 13 of these samples.The trace, rare earth, and platinum group element distributions, including their layer-to-layer variations, were compared in hydrogenic and hydrothermal crusts from different regions. It was found that the main PGE variations (by a factor of 10–50) are related to their layer-to-layer variations within a given ore field.The distributions of PGE and trace elements are strongly heterogeneous, which is related, first, to different contents of the elements in the layers of different age in ferromanganese crusts (FMC) and, second, to the observed regional heterogeneity and influence of hydrothermal fluids. Geochemical data indicate that CFC formation was mainly caused by the hydrochemical precipitation of material from seawater. This process was accompanied by diagenetic phenomena, water-rock interaction, and influence of volcanic and hydrothermal sources.     

Geochemical zoning in ferromanganese crusts of Ita-MaiTai guyot

Samples of ferromanganese crusts dredged from Ita-MaiTai guyot (Magellan seamounts, Pacific Ocean) were studied. They are made up of a complete stratigraphic section of different-age layers, including unique oldest relict layers in some samples. The study of trace, rare-earth, and noble element (including Pt and Pd) distribution showed that old layers differ from young ones in terms of Co, TR, S, As, and P. In addition, composition of the crusts significantly varies depending on the spatial position of sample in the guyot. In some zones, crusts enriched in trace elements were generated both in the Pleistocene and Paleogene. Significant variations established in trace element composition of different-age layers indicate that trace element composition of the crusts notably evolved with time, which could be caused by productivity of biocenosis or change in the formation depth of crusts on the guyot due to vertical tectonic movements.     

铁锰结壳中底层洋流活动的地球化学研究

文章以大洋海山铁锰结壳与南极底层流(AABW)之间关系的角度,从铁锰结壳的结构构造、矿物组合,特别是结壳新壳层的Ce异常和Ce/La比值的区域分布来探讨AABW的活动在铁锰结壳中留下的证据。主要对中太平洋和西北太平洋5座海山的17个铁锰结壳新壳层样品进行了结构构造分析和REE含量测定。结果表明,铁锰结壳的REE含量很高,平均为1716.66×10-6,且轻稀土元素明显富集,LREE/HREE平均值为4.82,除MID06样品具微弱的Ce负异常外,其他铁锰结壳样品均具明显的Ce正异常。为了对比研究AABW的影响,除铁锰结壳外,还引用了不同区域的多金属结核的稀土元素平均值资料按不同区域进行了对比研究,结果发现,AABW活动区和非活动区的δCe值和Ce/La比值有显著差异。一般来说,沿AABW流路,从南向北,δCe值和Ce/La比值有逐渐减小的趋势,但在局部地区,如地形复杂的海山区,AABW的强度会发生变化,其Ce正异常和Ce/La比值可能会局部增大。本项研究成果将有助于全面认识大洋成矿作用与海洋环境变迁的内在联系。