Ferromanganese nodules and crusts chemical analysis of samples from cruise L583HW (R/V S.P. Lee) using X-ray

The cooperative cruise of the R/V S.P. Lee in 1983 provided an excellent opportunity for a wide-range interlaboratory study on samples of crusts ground and sieved aboard the vessel. Analytical data on splits of approximately 56 samples were performed by the U.S. Geological Survey laboratories in Reston Virginia and Woods Hole Massachusetts, (see Chapter V), the Bureau of Mines laboratory in Avondale, Maryland, and the laboratory of the German Geological Survey in Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany. At USGS Woods-Hole, 2.0 cm thick mini-slabs from ferromanganese crust or nodule outer surface were separated into horizons and layers. They were ground and sieved through a 105 micron nylon mesh. Remaining ferromanganese material was removed by washing with 10 percent hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH2OH.HCL) and 1 percent oxalic acid. Samples were first dried at 110°C overnight for the determination of hydroscopic water (H2O-). Major and minor element concentrations were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.