Analysis of manganese nodules from Lake Baikal

Although ferromanganese crusts from shallow depths in Lake Baykal have been described previously, the presence of nodules at depths of about 500 m are a new discovery made possible by exploration using manned submersibles. The nodules are comparable to oceanic nodules in composition, but have some significant differences, including a more rapid rate of growth. Sedimentary-diagenetic processes are mainly responsible for their formation, but there is reason to believe hydrothermal fluids play some role.

尽管此前已有关于贝加尔湖（Lake Baykal）浅水区铁锰结壳（ferromanganese crusts）的相关报道，但在约500米水深发现结核（nodules）却是一项全新发现，该发现得益于载人潜水器（manned submersibles）的勘探作业。此类结核在成分上与大洋结核较为相近，但存在若干显著差异，其中包括更快的生长速率。其形成主要由沉积成岩作用（sedimentary-diagenetic processes）主导，但现有依据表明热液流体（hydrothermal fluids）也发挥了一定作用。