Analysis of Mn-nodules from the Indian Ocean

This report studies the principal paramters governing the distribution of iron-manganese concretions on the sea floor of the Indian Ocean, as well as their petrography and mineralogy. The results are mainly based on the recoveries made during voyages 31, 33 and 35 of the "Vityaz"' (1959-1962) and partly during voyages 36 and 41 (1964-1966). During these voyages samples of Mn concretions and Mn crust were collected (by bottom grabs, cores, trawlings, and dredgings) at 39 stations. The following account is devoted to the problems concerning the geochemistry of these concretions.