Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits in the Blake Plateau area from R/V Eastward

Examination of the surface of freshly collected ferromanganese nodules by scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of microcolonies of rod- and coccus-shaped bacteria which appeared to be anchored to the nodule surface by slime. The attachment of microcolonies by slime to the surface of freshly collected nodules argues against their being contaminants introduced during nodule collection or processing. These results corroborate cultural and biochemical detection of bacteria on ferromanganese nodules.

通过扫描电子显微镜（scanning electron microscopy）对新鲜采集的铁锰结核（ferromanganese nodules）表面开展观测，可见杆状与球状细菌形成的微菌落（microcolonies），此类微菌落似乎通过黏液锚定在结核表面。微菌落借助黏液附着于新鲜采集的结核表面这一特征，可排除其为结核采集或处理过程中引入的污染物的可能性。上述结果佐证了铁锰结核表面细菌的培养法与生化法检测结果。