Geochemistry of ferromanganese nodules in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea

Distribution of the major and trace elements in ferromanganese nodules, which are buried or exposed on the seafloor, and in host sediments was studied in ten concretion/sediment pairs by various physical and chemical methods. It has been established that, in addition to Fe and Mn, a limited number of the major and trace elements (P, Ca, Sr, Ba, Mo, Co, Zn, Ni, As, Pb, Sb, Tl, U, W, Y, and Ga included) is accumulated with a variable degree of intensity (relative to sediments) in the concretions. As compared to host sediments, the maximal content of Mn in concretions is 100 times higher, whereas maximal contents of all other elements listed above vary from more than one to 10–20 times. Manganese and, to a lesser extent, Ba and Sr are concentrated in the buried concretions. Other elements are primarily concentrated in concretions exposed on the sea-floor. The occurrence mode of concretions and compositional data on interstitial water suggest that metals in the concretions were derived from seawater and suspended particulates, in addition to sediments. Burial of concretions in the sediment pile is accompanied by the alteration of their composition, accumulation of Mn (relative to Fe), and loss of several associated metals.