Detailed mineralogy and chemical composition of manganese nodules retrieved from the Pacific Ocean by R/V Vityaz campaigns

The structure of the principal manganese minerals of the nodules, todorokite and birnes- site, is determined by the structure of hydrated manganese dioxide. Using this fact and the results of solution of the nodules in acids it is demonstrated that Ni, Cu, Co, and Zn are adsorbed on the hydrated manganese and iron oxides. The correlation coefficients for the elements in the nodules from the deep-water basins of the Pacific Ocean and from the region of the Mid-Pacific Mountains are computed, and it is shown that the correlation between Co and Mn and Fe changes in character with depth. The contents of Ni and Cu are correlated with Mn/Fe ratio.