Analysis of manganes nodules from the Antarctic Ocean

Five nodules collected on Leg 28 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project are unique in that they provide an opportunity of studying older, buried nodules. Paleontological evidence from the cores suggests they may be from Miocene to Pliocene in age. The thinness of the ferromanganese coatings on the nuclei suggests that rapid burial took place. They differ from the few analyzed surface nodules from the South Pacific in that the Mn and Ni concentrations of the buried nodules are lower, and the Co concentrations are slightly higher. The Fe and Cu concentrations are similar. There is no evidence that either leaching or remobilization of any of these elements has taken place subsequent to burial.