Abstract
Polymetallic nodule and sediment characteristics were investigated for two blocks (KR2 and KR5) in the Korea Deep Ocean Study (KODOS) area in order to better understand nodule distribution and the potential effects of sediments on nodule genesis. The northern block (KR2) is dominated by hydrogenetic nodules, whereas the southern block (KR5) is dominated by diagenetic nodules. Sediments in the study area are assigned to three major lithologic units which are distinctive in color and texture. The northern block is characterized by a thick, metalpoor Unit 1 sediment, which is thin in the southern block, where metal-rich Units 2b and 3 occur close to the surface. The distribution of different nodule genetic types in the northern and southern blocks can be attributed to topographic variations (topographic high near seamounts in KR2 and abyssal plain in KR5) and different sedimentation rates (0.1 and 0.32 mm/kyr in blocks KR2 and KR5, respectively). The southern block has a geologic setting more conducive to diagenetic nodule formation, such as flat topography and sediment composition. Nodule distribution in the studied blocks might also be explained by the distribution of the sediment units of different metal contents. The northern block, in which Unit 1 is thicker, has more abundant hydrogenetic nodules, possibly because Unit 1 prevents metals that are remobilized from the underlying sediments from reaching the seabed where the nodules are forming.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bernhard H, Blissenbach HE (1988) Economic importance. In: Halbach P et al. (eds) The Manganese nodule belt of the Pacific Ocean. Ferdinand Enke Verlag, Stuttgart, pp 4–9
Biscaye PE (1965) Mineralogy and sedimentation of recent deepsea clay in the Atlantic ocean and adjacent seas and oceans. Geol Soc Am Bull 76:803–831
Corliss BH and Hollister CD (1982) A paleoenvironmental model for Cenozoic sediemntation in the central North Pacific. In: Scrutton RA and Talwani M (eds) The Ocean Floor. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, pp 277–304
Halbach P, Friedrich G, von Steckelberg U (1988) The manganese nodule belt of the Pacific ocean. Ferdinand Enke, Stuttgart, 254 p
Hyeong K, Park SH, Yoo CM, Kim KH (2005) Mineralogical and geochemical compositions of the eolian dust from the northeast equatorial Pacific and their implications on paleolocation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Paleoceanography 20:PA1010
Hyeong K, Yoo CM, Kim J, Chi SB, Kim KH (2006) Flux and grain size variation of eolian dust as a proxy tool for the paleoposition of the Intertropical Convergence Zone in the northeast Pacific. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclim Palaeoecol 241:214–223
Hyeong K, Kim J, Pettke T, Yoo CM, Hur S (2011) Lead, Nd and Sr isotope records of pelagic dust: Source indication versus the effects of dust extraction procedures and authigenic mineral growth. Chem Geol 286:240–251
Kennet J (1982) Marine Geology. Prentice Hall, 752 p
Lyle AO, Lyle MW (2002) Determination of biogenic opal in pelagic marine sediments: A simple method revisited. In: Lyle M et al. (eds) Proceedings of ODP Init Repts. 199, College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), pp 1–21
Macdonald KC, Fox P, Alexander RT, Pockalny R, Gente P (1996) Volcanic growth faults and the origin of Pacific abyssal hills. Nature 380:125–129
McKelvey VE, Wright NA, Rowland RW (1979) Manganese nodule resource in the northeastern equatorial Pacific. In: Bischoff JL, Piper DZ (eds) Marine Geology and Oceanography of the Pacific Manganese Nodule Province. Plenum, New York, pp 747–762
Mero JL (1965) The Mineral Resources of the Sea. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 312 p
Piper DZ, Blueford JR (1982) Distribution, mineralogy and texture of manganese nodules and their relation to sedimentation at DOMES site A in the equatorial Pacific. Deep-Sea Res 29: 927–952
Schultz LG (1964) Quantitative interpretation of mineralogical composition from X-ray and chemical data for the Pierre shale. Geological Survey Professional Paper 391-C, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, C31 p
Usui A, Nisimura A, Tanahashi M, Terashima S (1987) Local variability of manganese nodule facies on samall abyssal hills of the cetral Pacific basin. Mar Geol 74:237–275
von Stackelberg U, Beiersdorf H (1991) The formation of manganese nodules between the Clarion and Clipperton fracture ones southeast of Hawaii. Mar Geol 98:411–423
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, J., Hyeong, K., Lee, HB. et al. Relationship between polymetallic nodule genesis and sediment distribution in the KODOS (Korea Deep Ocean Study) Area, Northeastern Pacific. Ocean Sci. J. 47, 197–207 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-012-0020-8
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-012-0020-8