Bulk chemical analysis of manganese crusts from the Equatorial Pacific Ocean

Ferromanganese crusts were selected from two cruises performed by R/V Moana Wave in early 1986 and 1987 within territorial waters of the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Western Samoa, in the south equatorial Pacific. Chemical analyses were performed on a 1l0°C dry basis. Triplicate splits were dissolved with mineral acids in Parr bombs. Solutions were analyzed for selected major and minor constituents by atomic absorption (AA). The relative precision of analyses was better than 7% of the reported value; accuracy of determinations was ascertained by analysis of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) standard Fe-Mn nodules A-1 and P-1; results were generally within 5% relative to recommended values.