富钴结核粒径分形特征

利用分形理论,对我国在中、西太平洋国际海底区域获得富钴结核的粒径特征进行了研究.结果显示富钴结核的粒径具有分段分形的特点,计算得到了它们的各自的分维数,并对其意义进行了探讨.     

中国开辟区多金属结核粒径分析及其意义

为了便于多金属结核的开采、结核分布规律的探讨和矿藏储量计算,对DY85-4航次所取得的多金属结核抽样样品进行了逐个三轴粒径测量和称量工作,并进行了统计分析和分形研究,得到了多金属结核的粒径统计分布规律。从而为集矿机的设计提供了科学依据。     

分形理论在太平洋多金属结核分布研究中的应用

分形理论与耗散结构、混沌理论一样,是最近一个时期非线性科学研究中所取得的重要成果[1],并在近年来得到了迅速的发展.其主体内容是研究系统的自相似性和不规则性,能为复杂问题的定量化提供新的途径[2].用分形理论研究地质现象是非线性科学的一个重要方向,前人已在地质数据的分形结构、地质时空结构的自相似性及其动力学机制、地质现象的分形重建与矿床分形统计预测方法等方面进行探索,取得了一些重要成果[3～6],但值得指出的是地质分形是统计意义上的无规分形,与数学意义上的严格自相似有区别.     

深拖系统光学图像多金属结核粒径和丰度的计算

针对Simrad深拖系统和上海交通大学与美国DOE联合研制的深拖系统,开发光学图像多金属结核覆盖率、粒径和丰度计算软件.提出了深拖系统光学图像拖体高度校正处理、粒径计算方法,分析了我国太平洋多金属结核矿区东、西区结核丰度与覆盖率和粒径的相关性,建立了深拖系统光学图像多金属结核丰度计算的数学模式.     

东太平洋多金属结核中铁、锰元素的分形演化及其意义

运用分形理论,通过建立不同的相空间,计算了东太平洋多金属结核中的铁、锰元素的时间序列在各相空间中的关联分维,并与其在沉积物岩心中的关联分维进行了对比.通过研究发现,多金属结核中铁、锰元素和沉积物中Fe₂O₃及MnO在分形演化过程中均存在分维吸引子,认为沉积物中的Fe₂O₃和MnO可以用3个变量来描述,它们可能代表了火山、生物和陆地的三种来源,而描述结核中的铁、锰元素却需要14个变量,反映多金属结核中铁、锰元素的来源和/或赋存非常复杂,至少有14个因素在起作用,可能暗示了结核在形成过程中存在复杂的生物化学作用,为多金属结核的生物成因提供了间接的数学证据,同时也合理解释了结核生长结构所具有的自相似韵律现象.     

试论大洋多金属结核的金属物质来源

研究多金属结核的金属物质来源对认识多金属结核的生成和分布具有重要意义.本文初步认为:大陆径流、洋底热液活动为深海多金属结核提供的金属物质可能是有限的,而玄武岩类火山物质的海解作用则可能是深海多金属结核的主要物质来源.     

大洋多金属结核成因研究的进展

近年来,大洋多金属结核成因特别是超微生物成因研究取得了很大进展。它对于重新认识多金属结构的成矿环境、作用机理及多金属资源的勘探具有重要意义。     

数学地质方法在大洋多金属结核研究中的应用

回顾了一些数学地质的基本理论方法（即基础数学方法、多元统计、地质统计学、人工神经网络、分形理论）以及它们在大洋多金属结核研究中的应用状况，并探讨了其今后的主要应用方向。     

西盘古海盆锰结核的元素地球化学特征及生长机制

通过对西盘古海盆(Cipangu Basin)15个锰结核样品开展系统的形态结构、显微构造、矿物组成、常微量元素和稀土元素含量特征差异性研究,进而探讨该区锰结核的成因类型和生长机制。西盘古海盆锰结核外观为椭球状或连生体状,表面光滑,组成矿物主要有水羟锰矿、石英、钙长石和石盐;其稀土元素配分模式图表现出明显的Ce正异常、Y负异常和轻稀土富集特征。样品Mn/Fe比值均<2.5,与Ni、Cu正相关,且Mn与Cu、Co和Ni高度正相关,这表明因Cu2+、Ni2+、Co2+更易占据层板结构锰氧八面体MnO6的空位而在锰矿物表面富集。锰结核显微构造区域可划分为Type-Ⅰ型和Type-Ⅱ型,其中Type-Ⅰ型为结构致密高反射率的层纹状、柱状、叠层状构造的显微构造区域,Type-Ⅱ型为结构疏松低反射率的掌状、混杂状、环状构造的显微构造区域;Type-Ⅰ型区域的Mn/Fe比值和Ni、Ni + Cu、Co含量均高于Type-Ⅱ型区域。构造致密的Type-Ⅰ型区域代表沉积环境变化较小,生长速率较小;构造疏松的Type-Ⅱ型区域代表沉积环境剧烈变化、结核生长速率较大。西盘古海盆锰结核具有典型的水成型成因特征,通过常微量元素测试数据估算得出西盘古海盆锰结核样品的形成时间为1.48 Ma。据微区分析数据估算得出其生长年龄为2.44 Ma。     

Geochemical types of pacific polymetallic nodules: An application of multivariate analysis

A total of 843 samples of Pacific Ocean polymetallic nodules (PNs) from five survey areas have been studied (metals analyzed: Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Co, Zn, Pb). The statistical analysis included the following techniques: factor R analysis, quick cluster Q analysis into 50 preclasses, various hierarchical cluster Q analyses (HCAs) using the preclasses (application of different HCAs to an identical set of data and of an identical HCA to two different subsets of the data), comparison of the HCA. The PNs of the survey areas can be grouped into five geochemical types (I‐V). The genesis of the PNs was interpreted as early diagenetic, hydrogenetic, and mixed (early diagenetic/hydrogenetic and hydrogenetic/hydrothermal. In addition, some further conclusions regarding the applicability of various HCA techniques depending on the structure of the data set have been drawn.     

深海采矿锰结核泵的试验研究

锰结核泵是深海采矿扬矿系统中的关键设备,为了研究泵结核矿浆工作性能,在实验室构建了一套高30 m、内径204 mm,可提供最大管网阻力2.5 MPa的泵矿浆性能试验系统,采用不同模拟结核粒径进行了泵矿浆工作特性试验。试验结果表明,锰结核泵基本上达到了预期设计指标,分析了模拟结核粒径d≤50 mm矿浆回流试验泵流道堵塞的原因,初步讨论了锰结核泵的环形格栅通道和泵流道问题,可作为我国中试多级锰结核泵的设计依据。     

Production key figures for planning the mining of manganese nodules

Under the impression of decreasing ore grades and increasing production costs in conventional mining, seafloor minerals came into focus. Having gained a basic understanding of geological settings, there is still a lack of tools to assess and plan future mining projects in the deep-sea. This paper contributes to a mining concept which is inspired by the high-tech farming industry: strip mining. Potential mining fields are identified using image filters in conjunction with hydroacoustic backscatter data and slope angles and are portioned into long, narrow strips. In the framework of the EU-funded Blue Mining project, these methods were applied to a part of the eastern German exploration area, located in the manganese nodule belt of the Clarion Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean. Both, the mapping technique and the mining concept presented in this paper can be used in early-stage feasibility studies to derive estimates on production key figures for seafloor manganese nodule mining.     

Mineralogy and composition of manganese crusts and nodules and sediments from the Manihiki plateau and adjacent areas: Results of HMNZS Tui Cruises

Forty‐four sediment samples and 23 Mn crusts and Mn nodules have been analyzed for several elements in order to characterize their geochemical nature. Most of the Mn crusts and Mn nodules are of hydrogenous origin, although one crust (U375) from the flanks of the Rarotonga volcano is thought to be of hydrothermal origin. δ‐MnO₂ is the principal Mn mineral in the crusts, whereas todorokite and birnessite occur in addition to δ‐MnO₂ in the nodules. The sediments can be divided into carbonates, with calcite as the dominant phase, and deep‐sea clay, consisting mainly of illite and smectite.     

Minor and rare elements in manganese crusts and nodules and sediments from the Manihiki plateau and adjacent areas: Results of HMNZS Tui cruises

Six manganese crusts, 13 manganese nodules, and 16 sediments were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Data were generated on selected major and minor elements but geochemical evaluations are based only on Fe, Sc, U, Th, and the rare earth elements (REE). Manganese crusts and manganese nodules have comparable trivalent REE contents and show a shale‐like distribution pattern. Both crusts and nodules are characterized by a positive Ce anomaly but the anomaly is higher in nodules. REE contents in manganese nodules show a linear dependence on the Fe content, and it is concluded that these elements are incorporated in the Fe‐rich (δ‐MnO₂) phase. In the crusts, the REE correlate with Sc and are therefore assumed to be associated with the clay minerals. Uranium contents are significantly higher in the crusts than in nodules whereas Th is slightly higher in the nodules. There is a clear positive correlation between U and Th in nodules but there are too few data to make a similar conclusion for crusts. Compositional data suggest a division of the sediments into two groups. The carbonate sediments have much lower REE contents and a more pronounced negative Ce anomaly than the clays, while both show a lithogenous component as indicated by a slight negative Eu anomaly.     

Possibilities of using the GLORIA system for manganese nodule assessment

The I.O.S. long range side-scan sonar GLORIA has been widely used over a variety of seabed types, but until recently had not been used over an independently authenticated field of manganese nodules. In the Eastern Atlantic Ocean at approximately 31°25 N 25°15 W, a field of nodules approximately 3–6 cm in diameter covering up to 18% of the seafloor was observed using an underwater camera. The nodule field occurred over approximately 2.8 km of the 8.3 km camera run. The corresponding GLORIA image shows an area of medium intensity backscattering, approximately 3.7 km in diameter. Considering the likely contrast in acoustic reflectivity between manganese nodules and deep sea sediments, we propose a correlation between the nodules observed in the photographs and the medium intensity echo target revealed by the GLORIA system.     

A comparison between manganese nodules and cobalt crust economics in a scenario of mutual exclusivity

The past 20 years have been characterised by limited interest in the economic viability of deep seabed mining with the exception of those mineral ores rich in precious metals such as polymetallic sulphides. This paper goes against the tide. After reviewing the most significant literature, it compares the economic feasibility of mining polymetallic manganese nodules and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in a scenario of mutual exclusivity. It uses a new indicator, the cobalt-nickel price ratio, whose aim is to verify at what metal prices the net present value of the two mining projects equalises. Previous research has shown that the turning margin between manganese nodules and cobalt crusts is a cobalt price of $50/kg. The present paper revises this by showing that the choice between mining crust and nodules depends on fluctuations in the price of nickel. A Monte Carlo simulation proves that cobalt crust mining could be reasonably preferred to manganese nodules at cobalt prices of $40-60/kg if the price of nickel fell below $11/kg. Within this condition, investors would receive the minimum acceptable internal rate of return of 15%, which is at a level of risk closer to the land-based mining. However, when the price of nickel passes the $11/kg threshold, the equilibrium between the two ventures can be reached only at a cobalt price greater than $100/kg, causing cobalt crust to become uncompetitive. Finally, the paper, recognising that prices are not unique drivers, introduces legal, political, technological and environmental concerns to show that the final choice between the two mining ventures cannot be merely driven by economic issues.