Ferromanganese Crust Resources in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Abstract

Ferromanganese crusts on raised areas of the ocean floor have joined abyssal manganese nodules and hydrothermal sulfides as potential marine resources. Significant volumes of cobalt-rich (about 1% Co) crusts have been identified to date within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Central Pacific: NW Hawaiian Ridge and Seamount region, and seamounts in the Johnston Island and Palmyra Island regions. Large volumes of lower grade crusts, slabs and nodules are also present in shallow (<1000 m) waters on the Blake Plateau, off Florida-South Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean. Data on ferromanganese crusts have been increased by recent German and USGS cruises, but are still sparse, and other regions having crust potential are under current investigation.