Distribution Characteristics of Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crust Resources on Submarine Seamounts in the Western Pacific

Based on the survey data of five submarine seamount provinces （chains） in the Western Pacific, the distribution characteristics of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust resources have been researched in this paper by using the relative reference data and applying the theories of hotspot and seafloor spreading. The main research results obtained are as follows： The Co-rich crust thickness in the study area is gradually increasing from east to west and from south to north having a negative correlation （r = -0.59） with longitude and a positive correlation （r = 0.48） with latitude. The crust thickness varying along longitude and latitude is influenced by the hotspot and seafloor spreading. The oceanic crusts and seamounts in the northwest part of the study area are older, and the crust resources are superior to those in the southeast part. In the depth of 〈1500 m, 1500-2000 m, 2000-2500 m in the study area, the cobalt crust thickness is respectively 5.45 cm, 4.34 cm and 3.55 cm, and in the depth of 2500-3000 m and 3000-3500 m, it drops respectively to 2.84 cm and 3.37 cm. The Co-rich crust resources are mainly concentrated in the seamount summit margins and the upper flanks in the depth of 〈2500 m. There is a strong negative correlation （r = -0.67） between the cobalt crust abundance and the slope of the seamount, 75 kg/m^2 and 50 kg/mz at the slopes of 0°-20° and 20°-34° respectively. Cobalt crusts are mainly distributed in the parts whose slopes are less than 20°. It is consistent with the fractal result that the slope threshold of cobalt crust distribution is 19°, and slopes over 20° are not conducive to the crust growth. The cobalt crusts of high grade are mainly enriched in the region within 150°E-140°W and 30°S-30°N in the Pacific, where there are about 587 seamounts at the depth of 3500- 6000 m and over 30 Ma of the oceanic crusts. The perspective area rich in cobalt crust resources is about 41×104 km^2 and the resource quantity is approximately 27 billion tons.     

太平洋海山地形与钴结壳资源分布的分形研究

通过海山地形与钴结壳资源量的分形研究表明,海山地形与钴结壳资源量间呈多重分形分布。海山坡度与资源量分形呈三段式,引起海山坡度与资源量分段分形的原因是不同类型结壳分布叠加的结果。水深—资源量分形呈三到四段式,引起水深—资源量复杂分形的原因可能与海山基底洋壳有关,海山基底洋壳年龄老于165 M a的海山呈四段式分布,而小于165 M a的海山呈三段式分布。同一区域或不同区域内海山地形与资源分布各不相同。      

大洋富钴结壳资源调查与研究进展

富钴结壳是继多金属结核资源之后被发现的又一深海沉积固体矿产资源,在太平洋、大西洋和印度洋的海底均有分布。据估算,全球三大洋海山富钴结壳干结壳资源量为(1081.1661~2162.3322)×108t。世界各国对富钴结壳的调查始于20世纪80年代初,截至目前,已有日本、中国、俄罗斯和巴西等4个国家与国际海底管理局签订了富钴结壳勘探合同,而韩国的矿区申请也于2016年获得核准。富钴结壳按形态可分为板状结壳,砾状结壳和钴结核3种类型。富钴结壳内部结构构造在宏观上通常表现为三层构造,即底部亮煤层、中部疏松层和顶部较致密层;在微观下主要表现为柱状构造、叠层构造、斑块状构造、纹层状构造等多种类型。富钴结壳的矿物成分主要为自生的铁锰矿物,包括水羟锰矿、钡镁锰矿、羟铁矿、四方纤铁矿、六方纤铁矿、针铁矿等。富钴结壳富含Mn、Fe、Co、Ni、Cu、Pb、Zn等金属元素以及稀土元素和铂族元素,其中Co含量尤为显著。三大洋中,以太平洋富钴结壳的Co平均含量最高。富钴结壳的生长过程极其缓慢,平均仅几毫米每百万年。研究表明,西太平洋富钴结壳最早于始新世-早中新世开始生长。目前通常认为富钴结壳为水成成因,即Co、Fe、Mn等金属元素来源于海水。此外,有研究表明微生物在富钴结壳的形成过程中也起着非常重要的作用。富钴结壳的分布及特征受地形、水深、基岩类型、海水水文化学特征、经纬度等多种因素的影响,其主要分布于碳酸盐补偿深度以上、最低含氧带以下、水深800~2500 m的海山、岛屿斜坡和海底高地上,西、中太平洋海山区被认为是全球富钴结壳的最主要产出区。     

钴结壳矿区圈定和资源评价的参数指标

大洋海山钴结壳集海洋资源和环境双重信息, 各国对它的调查研究方兴未艾.钴结壳资源勘查的最终目的是圈定钴结壳矿区和开发钴结壳资源.迄今为止, 国内外尚未就钴结壳矿区圈定和资源评价给出具体的参数指标, 基于我国近十年对西太平洋26座海山钴结壳资源调查, 结合太平洋环境资料, 在深入分析钴结壳厚度、丰度、品位、覆盖率、资源量、面积, 海山坡度和水深资料的基础上, 对13座重点海山进行了钴结壳矿区圈定、资源评价和钴结壳分布规律的系统研究, 进而提出圈定钴结壳矿区的八项重要参数指标: 钴结壳矿区的结壳厚度为≥3cm或≥4cm, 取决于海山具体地理位置; 水深为≤2500m或≤3000m;Co含量为≥0.50%或≥0.60%;丰度为≥60kg/m2或≥70kg/m2; 坡度为≤15°; 结壳覆盖率为≥30%;钴结壳矿区的申请面积为17000~20000km2, 矿区最终保留面积为5000~6000km2.钴结壳矿区8项参数指标的提出, 将有力地促进大洋钴结壳矿区圈定、资源量计算和资源评价工作, 为我国积极参与联合国海底管理局制定钴结壳资源开发利用规章制度提供量化参考指标.      

中太平洋海山富钴结壳主要成壳元素特征

通过大洋一号船DY105--12 /14 航次采集的结壳样品,对中太平洋CL、CM2、CM3、CX、CQ、 CA、CB 海山结壳的主要成壳元素Mn、Fe、Co、Ni、Cu 的含量进行了测试统计,并与邻区的麦哲伦海山、马绍尔群岛、夏威夷群岛和莱恩群岛进行了对比,中太平洋各海山以及不同区域海山结壳的主成分之间存在一些差异,这主要与各海山结壳的物质来源、成壳环境和成壳时代的差异有关。不同形态类型的结壳主成分具有一定的差别,其主要原因可能是生长机制和形成环境不同造成的。     

Successional stages of biological soil crusts and their microstructure variability in Shapotou region (China)

In order to investigate succession of biological soil crusts (BSCs) and their microstructure variability, we conducted this work in Shapotou revegetation region at the southeast edge of Tengger Deser. The results showed that BSCs generally succeeded as a pathway of “Algae crusts, algae–lichen crusts, lichen crusts, lichen–moss crusts and moss crusts”. Occasionally mosses directly occurred on algae crusts, and BSCs succeeded from algae crusts to moss crusts. Crust vertical stratification was a common phenomenon, from top to bottom an inorganic layer, algae-dense layer and algae-sparse layer were divided in algae crusts; a thallus layer, rhizoid layer and sub-rhizoid layer in lichen crusts; a “stem-leaf” layer, rhizoid layer and sub-rhizoid layer in moss crusts, respectively. The main crust binding organisms varied from filamental cyanobacteria (dominated by Microcoleus) in algae crusts to lichen rhizoids, free-living cyanobacterial filaments and fungal hyphaes in lichen crusts, and to moss rhizoids and fungal hyphaes in moss crusts. The dominant phototrophic organisms varied from Microcoleus (algae) in algae crusts to Collema (lichens) in lichen crusts, and to Bryum (or Didymodon and Tortula; mosses) in moss crusts. Total phototrophic biomass increased while the free-living algal biomass decreased with the succession of BSCs. In addition, exopolysaccharides and fine particles accumulated in the course of development and succession of BSCs, all of which lead to a gradual increase in crust thickness and porosity, while decrease in the bulk density.     

利用多波束回波强度进行中太平洋潜鱼海山底质分类

中、西太平洋海山区是富钴结壳的重要富集区,钙质远洋沉积、碳酸盐岩沉积及重力作用引起的滑塌沉积是海山山顶和斜坡的主要沉积类型,它们的空间分布规律对于富钴结壳的分布至关重要.在国内首次利用EM122多波束回波强度资料对中太平洋潜鱼海山进行了底质类型研究,对回波强度资料进行处理和统计分类,并与浅地层剖面和地质取样结果对比,分析得出了4种底质类型,即富钴结壳、钙质远洋沉积、碳酸盐岩基底及碎屑流沉积.这几种底质类型具有不同的回波强度特征,其中富钴结壳区表现为均一的回波强度高值特征;钙质远洋沉积区表现为均一的回波强度低值特征,二者回波强度值相差约20 dB.结果显示潜鱼海山山顶仅局部发育钙质远洋沉积,大部分为碳酸盐岩基底出露区,山顶边缘及侧翼山脊处为主要的富钴结壳分布区.此外,该海山存在3处较大规模的重力滑塌沉积区,主要为碎屑流沉积.      

多金属结壳Os同位素组成区域性和阶段性偏高异常

Os同位素地层法可以得到包含生长间断期的分辨率较高的结壳年代框架,相对传统定年方法具有更优的发展前景.在比对多金属结壳分层Os同位素组成曲线与大洋海水标准曲线从而为多金属结壳定年的同时,研究标准曲线的区域性特征及其与壳源、幔源物质供应的关系.依据比值和趋势贴合原则,得到的多金属结壳生长期包括80～75 Ma、70～65...     

Seamounts in the Central Indian Ocean Basin: indicators of the Indian plate movement

The study of seamount parameters in the tectonically most-complicated and least-understood Indian Ocean assumes importance since their properties vary as a function of tectonic setting, physics of lithosphere, conduit geometry and chemical composition of magma. More than 100 such seamounts ranging in summit height (h) from 300 to 2870 m, are indentified in the oceanic crust between Indian continent and Mid-Indian Ridge (MIR) and South-East Indian Ridge (SEIR). Most of the minor seamounts (h > 1000) are found in the southern part of the study area. Major seamounts (h < 1000 m) are roughly distributed in two groups—the northern group on Cretaceous Oceanic Crust and southern group on Pliocene-Miocene Oceanic Crust. On an average northern group seamounts (SM 1 to 6) are taller, wider and flatter than those from the southern group. These seamounts appear to be the result of continuous growth from tapped, moving magma chamber while stress depleted magma and inconsistent Indian Plate movement during Mid-Tertiary are attributed to the origin of southern group of smaller seamounts. Distribution and morphology of seamounts as a whole indicate their formation either from Reunion hotspot or from two separate hotspots in the geological past.     

太平洋海山钴结壳资源量估算

为合理地估算出太平洋海山钴结壳资源量, 基于我国西太平洋海山钴结壳拖网采样调查资料以及对太平洋海山钴结壳资源分布规律和钴结壳矿区圈定参数指标的深入研究, 创造性地按海山不同高度、不同洋壳年龄赋予不同结壳厚度, 进而首次计算出太平洋海山干结壳资源量为(507.06~1 014.11)×108 t, 锰为(111.15~222.29)×108 t, 钴为(3.04~6.08)×108 t, 镍为(2.23~4.46)×108 t, 铜为(0.66~1.32)×108 t, 结壳分布面积为2 062 862 km2.通过Co通量与结壳Co沉积量、结壳厚度的相关分析表明, 赋予不同洋壳年龄段的结壳厚度是理论厚度的6.10%~12.20%, 这与Ku et al.得出"结壳生长时间只占其整个生命史4%"的认识非常相近, 说明所赋结壳厚度基本合理, 得出的结壳资源量基本正确.为整个大洋海盆内海山钴结壳资源量的估算提供了新方法.      

Distance-gradient-based variogram and Kriging to evaluate cobalt-rich crust deposits on seamounts

The spatial distribution of cobalt-rich crust thicknesses on seamounts is partly controlled by water depth and slope gradients. Conventional distance–direction-based variogram have not effectively expressed the spatial self-correlation or anisotropy of the thicknesses of cobalt-rich crusts. To estimate resources in cobalt-rich crusts on seamounts using geostatistics, we constructed a new variogram model to adapt to the spatial distribution of the thicknesses of the cobalt-rich crusts. In this model, we defined the data related to cobalt-rich crusts on seamounts as three-dimensional surface random variables, presented an experimental variogram process based on the distance–gradient or distance–“relative water depth,” and provided a theoretical variogram model that follows this process. This method was demonstrated by the spatial estimation of the thicknesses of cobalt-rich crusts on a seamount, and the results indicated that the new variogram model reflects the spatial self-correlation of the thicknesses of cobalt-rich crusts well. Substituted into the Kriging equation, the new variogram model successfully estimated the spatial thickness distribution of these cobalt-rich crusts.     

西太平洋海域海山地形分形特征研究

对太平洋麦哲伦海山区、威克—马尔库斯海山区、马绍尔群岛、中太平洋海山区及莱恩群岛5个海山区的平顶海山与尖顶海山地形进行分形研究,结果表明两种类型海山地形具有不同的分形特征。海山形态投影覆盖法揭示平顶海山具有单分形的大尺度构造分形,尖顶海山具有大尺度构造分形和小尺度结构分形的双分形结构。海山等高线尺度法分形结果显示,同一海山区平顶海山分维值小于尖顶海山的;同一海山不同高程段等高线分维值基本保持稳定,垂向上具有明显的分段性,可以参考并使用它进行地貌垂向分带。     

中太平洋海山区富钴结壳的钙质超微化石地层学研究

对“大洋一号”调查船在中太平洋采集的N1-15和N5E-06 2个富钴结壳样品进行了钙质超微化石及其生物地层学的研究与分析.这2个结壳从结构上分为3层: 致密型上层、疏松型中层和致密型下层.在研究中对各结构层和各层中有颜色或细微结构变化的层位都进行了详细的取样和分析.在识别了12个新生代钙质超微化石事件的基础上, 确定了2个结壳致密型上层结壳都为晚更新世以来的沉积, 它们的疏松型中层结壳为上新世到中更新世的沉积.对N5E-06富钴结壳来说, 其致密型下层结壳下部形成于中晚古新世到早渐新世的59.7~ 32.8 Ma期间.N1-15富钴结壳致密型下层的形成时代目前暂时定为中新世.研究注意到在2个结壳中都没有发现可信的晚渐新世到中新世的化石记录, 在个别层位之间存在着沉积间断.      

富钴结壳中贵金属元素的特征

对太平洋CL、CM海山调查时获取9个富钴结壳样品,采用化学处理及ICP-MS法进行分析。对贵金属元素含量分布特征、富集因子、标准化模式以及来源进行探讨和研究。结果表明：海山结壳中贵金属元素Ag、Au、Ru、Rh、Pd、Pt等的平均含量分别为： 1.05×10^-6、2.3×10^-6、15.6×10^-9、22.3×10^-9、2.39×10^-9和432×10^-9。与结核、洋壳及陆地矿石的Pd/（Pt+Pd）、Pt/（Pt+Pd）和Pd/Pt等贵金属元素的比值相比,大洋富钴结壳的 Pd/（Pt+Pd） 比值最低,为0.006;其次是结核,为0.06;洋壳为0.08;陆地矿石的Pd/（Pt+Pd）比值较大,为0.35～0.65。结壳的Pt/（Pt+Pd）比值最高,为0.99;其次是结核,为0.95;洋壳为0.93;陆地矿石的Pt/（Pt+Pd）比值相对较低,为0.33～0.65。统计分析显示了不同区域、不同环境中贵金属元素的特征参数变化,并且说明富钴结壳中富铂、金、钌、铑,而贫钯。贵金属元素标准化显示,海山富钴结壳均存在着Pt、Au正异常和Pd的负异常,其中Au异常幅度与结核的Au异常一致。     

Distribution and Classification of Cobalt-Rich Crust

INTRODUTIONThe sea- floor metallic mineral resources are classified asmany types such as multi- m etallic nodules,metallic oozes,massive sulfide deposits and iron- manganese crusts.Before1980 s,China did not made any researches into metallic oozeand massive sulfide deposits;but China started to study m ul-ti- metallic nodules in the early1980 s,15 - 2 0 years later thanthe developed industry countries did.However,in the shortten years,we have caught up with the developed countries,and our…     

Ferromanganese crusts as indicators for paleoceanographic events in the NE Atlantic

Hydrogenetic ferromanganese crusts reflect the chemical conditions of the sewater from which they formed. Fine-scale geochemical analysis of crust layers in combination with age determinations can therefore be used to investigate paleoceanographic changes which are recorded in geochemical gradients in the crusts. At Tropic seamount (off northwest Africa), uniform crust growth influenced by terrigenous input from the African continent occurred during approximately the past 12 Ma. Phosphatization of these crusts is minor. In contrast, crusts from Lion seamount, located between Madeira and the Portuguese coast, display a much more variable growth history. A pronounced increase in Ni, Cu, and Zn is observed in some intervals of the crusts, which probably reflects increased surface productivity. A thick older phosphatized generation occurs in many samples. Hydrographic profiles indicate that Mediterranean outflow water (MOW) may play an important role in the composition of these crusts.¹⁰Be dating of one sample confirms that the interruption of the MOW during the Messinian salinity crisis (6.2–5 Ma ago) resulted in changes in element composition. Sr-isotope dating of the apatite phase of the old crust generation has been carried out to obtain a minimum age for the older generation of Atlantic crusts and to determine whether crust phosphatization in the Atlantic can be related to phosphatization episodes recorded in Pacific crusts. The preliminary data show that the old phosphatized crust generation might be as old as approximately 30–40 Ma.     

西太平洋海山玄武岩的岩石学特征及与上覆富钴结壳的关系

通过对西太平洋海山玄武岩和玄武质火山角砾岩的岩石学特征及其气孔充填物成分变化的研究,讨论了海山玄武岩与上覆富钴结壳的关系。富钴结壳的基岩火山岩主要为碱性玄武岩和玄武质火山角砾岩。碱性玄武岩中气孔充填物为S型和C型,S型和C型气孔充填物不共存在同一个气孔中。S型气孔充填物的物质成分富Si、Fe、K、Mg、Al,Co含量一般为0.17%~0.46%,其成分与碱性玄武岩的组成类似,其物质来源可能与碱性玄武岩有关。C型气孔充填物为O、Ca、C及少量Si、Al、Mg、Fe、K等元素,C型气孔充填物可能与海水中物质的沉积有关。由Si、Al、Fe、Mg、K等元素变化曲线反映出的S型气孔充填物沉积过程与富钴结壳早期的沉积过程具有相似的趋势,说明富钴结壳早期沉积物的物质来源可能与碱性玄武岩有关,富钴结壳物质来源可能是碱性玄武岩和海水共同作用的结果。     

An integrated method for the quantitative evaluation of mineral resources of cobalt-rich crusts on seamounts

Cobalt-rich crusts on seamounts potentially have the economic value of multiple metals. In the field of exploration, it is important to perform quantitative evaluations of mineral resources and delineate promising areas in survey regions for future mining. Accordingly, this study, based on prior knowledge, develops an integrated method to quantitatively evaluate mineral resources of cobalt-rich crusts on seamounts and gives an application example to demonstrate this method. The method includes four steps: first, defining units with certain areas and shapes on the target seamount (a 20 km² square block in the application example) and estimating characteristic values of the cobalt-rich crust for each unit with known geological survey data using a space interpolation method such as Kriging; second, presenting several model algorithms, i.e. Regional Coverage of Crusts, Suitable Slope Percentage for Mining and Fitting Area on Slopes, to extract the corresponding regional metallogenic factors for each unit by inputting regional surveying data (such as bathymetry data) into these models; third, considering both the features and regional metallogenic factors of cobalt-rich crusts in each unit to estimate their distribution of mineral resources on the entire seamount; and last, according to the distribution of the mineral resources and international social and economic requirements (such as the regulations of the International Seabed Authority), delineating a promising area for future mining.     

Microbiotic crusts and their interrelations with environmental factors in the Gurbantonggut desert,western China

Located in the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang, the Gurbantonggut Desert is the second largest desert in China. Microbiotic crusts consisting of animalcule, lichen, moss, and algae species develop extensively in the region. Their formation, species composition and distribution pattern are closely related to the environmental conditions along the different parts of sand dune. Analysis of microbiotic crust distribution and relationship to environmental factors shows that average microbiotic crust thickness is 0.05–0.1 cm at the tops dunes, 0.2–1.5 cm in the upper part, 1.5–2.5 cm in middle and lower parts of dunes, and 1.5–5.0 cm in interdune areas, while areal coverage is 30.5, 48.5, 55.5, and 75.5%, respectively. Microbiotic crust differentiation along dune slopes is a result of the development stage and converse-succession resistance of the different microbiotic crusts. The numbers of species, thickness and degree of development of microbiotic crusts increase from the upper part to the middle and lower parts of dune slopes. The development and differentiation of microbiotic crusts at various dune slope positions are a reflection of the ecological expression of the comprehensive adaptability and natural selection of different microbiotic crust species to the local environmental conditions, and are closely related to such ecological conditions as the physiochemical properties of soils and topsoil textural stability.     

A geochemical comparison of manganese oxide deposits of the Hawaiian Archipelago and the Deep Sea

Data are presented on the composition of manganese crusts collected within the Hawaiian Exclusive Economic Zone (HEEZ). These crusts were obtained in 80% of the dredge hauls between 800 and 3000 m. Although the chemistries of crusts on the Cenozoic Hawaiian Ridge and an older Cretaceous seamounts south and north of the ridge are quite similar, there are marked differences, both in composition and in mineralogical organization, between shallow and deep crusts. Shallow crusts (<1500 m) are composed of five distinct phases (i.e. silicate, apatite, iron oxide, manganese oxide, and non-associated copper), whereas the deep crusts display no obvious inter-elemental organization based on dendrograms. The mean composition of HEEZ crusts differs from that of Eastern Tropical Pacific nodules in that crusts are comparatively rich in As, Pb, Co, Ce, Fe, and Ti, whereas nodules have comparatively more Cu, Ni, and Sr. Compositional differences between shallow crusts and nodules are discussed in terms of (1) element source; (2) Mn-oxide mineralogy; and (3) redox conditions in the adjacent seawater. It is concluded that the major differences between crust and nodules is due to metal sources; water column for crusts, sediments for nodules. Advective processes within the O₂ minimum also affect the HEEZ crusts.