Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts Research Articles

Mineralogy of Cobalt-Rich Ferromanganese Crusts from the Perth Abyssal Plain (E Indian Ocean)

Mineralogy of phosphatized and zeolitized hydrogenous cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from Dirck Hartog Ridge (DHR), the Perth Abyssal Plain (PAP), formed on an altered basaltic substrate, is described. Detail studies of crusts were conducted using optical transmitted light microscopy, X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA). The major Fe-Mn mineral phases that form DHR crusts are low-crystalline vernadite, asbolane and a feroxyhyte-ferrihydrite mixture. Accessory minerals are Ca-hydroxyapatite, zeolites (Na-phillipsite, chabazite, heulandite-clinoptilolite), glauconite and several clay minerals (Fe-smectite, nontronite, celadonite) are identified in the basalt-crust border zone. The highest Ni, Cu and Co contents are observed in asbolane and Mn-(Fe) vernadite. There is significant enrichment of Ti in feroxyhyte−ferrihydrite and vernadite. The highest rare earth element (REE) content is measured in the phosphate minerals, less in phyllosilicates and Na-phillipsite. The geochemical composition of minerals in the DHR crusts supports the formation of crusts by initial alteration, phosphatization and zeolitization of the substrate basalts followed by oscillatory Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides precipitation of hydrogenous vernadite (oxic conditions) and diagenous asbolane (suboxic conditions).

Potential Mitigation and Restoration Actions in Ecosystems Impacted by Seabed Mining

Mining impacts will affect local populations to different degrees. Impacts range from removal of habitats and possible energy sources to pollution and smaller-scale alterations in local habitats that, depending on the degree of disturbance, can lead to extinction of local communities. While there is a shortage or even lack of studies investigating impacts that resemble those caused by actual mining activity, the information available on the potential long-lasting impacts of seabed mining emphasise the need for effective environmental management plans. These plans should include efforts to mitigate deep-sea mining impact such as avoidance, minimisation and potentially restoration actions, to maintain or encourage reinstatement of a resilient ecosystem. A wide range of mitigation and restoration actions for deep-sea ecosystems at risk were addressed. From an ecological point of view, the designation of set-aside areas (refuges) is of utmost importance as it appears to be the most comprehensive and precautionary approach, both for well-known and lesser studied areas. Other actions range from the deployment of artificial substrates to enhance faunal colonisation and survival to habitat recreation, artificial eutrophication, but also spatial and temporal management of mining operations, as well as optimising mining machine construction to minimise plume size on the sea floor, toxicity of the return plume and sediment compression. No single action will suffice to allow an ecosystem to recover, instead combined mitigation/restoration actions need to be considered, which will depend on the specific characteristics of the different mining habitats and the resources hosted (polymetallic sulphides, polymetallic nodules and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts). However, there is a lack of practical experience regarding mitigation and restoration actions following mining impacts, which severely hamper their predictability and estimation of their possible effect and success. We propose an extensive list of actions that could be considered as recommendations for best environmental practice. The list is not restricted and, depending on the characteristics of the site, additional actions can be considered. For all actions presented here, further research is necessary to fully encompass their potential and contribution to possible mitigation or restoration of the ecosystem.

Geochemistry of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from the Perth Abyssal Plain (E Indian Ocean)

Geochemistry of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from the as-yet-unexplored Dirck Hartog Ridge (DHR), a linear bathymetric feature of poorly understood origin, located in the centre of the Perth Abyssal Plain (PAP), is described for the first time, based on 3 samples analyzed with XRF, ICP-MS and EPMA. Mean bulk concentrations of Fe and Mn were 20.8 and 18.4 wt%, respectively; individual crust layers, however, proved chemically variable. The mean concentration of metals of the highest economic potential (Cu + Ni + Co) was 0.69 wt%. The mean total rare earth elements (REE) and yttrium (ΣREY) contents in the samples (1908 mg/kg) proved moderate. The crusts showed strong positive Ce anomalies, negative Y anomalies and a low YSN/HoSN ratio (mean 0.56). Observations on the texture and chemical composition of the crust samples studied allowed us to distinguish two major and two subtypes of representative colloform structures built of laminae. The Type I colloform structures showed the Mn/Fe ratio to range from 0.86 to 5.69, the ranges in Type II colloform structures being 0.49–2.47 (Subtype II-1) and 6.91–221.42 (Subtype II-2). The Subtype II-2 colloform structures were enriched in Ni (up to 7.31 wt%). The Co and Cu concentrations showed a high variability, 0.03–1.64 and 0.03–0.22 wt%, respectively. According to the current genetic models and discrimination diagrams, the crusts studied were classified as hydrogenetic, although individual laminae and groups of laminae could be regarded as diagenetic or hydrothermal.

Geochemical features and genesis of continental cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts

Mass cobalt-rich ferromanganese microcrusts and nodules similar in morphology and chemical composition to cobalt-rich ferromanganese deep-ocean crusts were found in Cenozoic volcanic rocks in southern Primorye. Research has shown that ore genesis of this type is genetically related to argillization and destruction of siliceous rocks by CO2-rich fluids, which is confirmed by experimental data on carbon erosion of iron-containing materials. Two types of this fluid ore genesis are recognized: (1) relatively high-temperature (vapor-condensate), related to late volcanic processes and fracture gas infiltration, and (2) low-temperature (vapor-liquid-condensate), controlled by degassing followed by carbon mobilization (gasification). Primarily colloidal ferromanganese segregations have high contents of Co, Ni, Pb, Cu, and Ce, typical of oceanic ore genesis. Regardless of the concentrations of these metals in the protoliths, their contents in microcrusts are similar (n-10n wt.%). This indicates the same ore genesis mechanism and similar sorption properties of the colloidal ferromanganese material formed. Barium- and cerium-rich ferromanganese microcrusts and nodules are abundant. Condensed drops of iron-containing platinum were found in apobasaltic nickel-rich ferromanganese segregations. There is a cerium paradox expressed as a minimum or a total lack of cerium among rare-earth phosphates associated with ferromanganese microcrusts. Fluid destruction and oxide metallization of ocean-floor basalts are assumed to be the main source of metals for oceanic ferromanganese crusts and nodules.

Strategic and rare elements in Cretaceous-Cenozoic cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from seamounts in the Canary Island Seamount Province (northeastern tropical Atlantic)

Thick ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) crusts from four Cretaceous seamounts (The Paps, Tropic, Echo and Drago) at the southern Canary Island Seamount Province (CISP) in the northeastern tropical Atlantic were recovered along the flanks and summits from 1700 to 3000m water depths. CISP is composed of >100 seamounts and submarine hills, is likely the oldest hotspot track in the Atlantic Ocean, and is the most long-lived of known hotspots globally. The Fe-Mn crusts grow on basalt-sedimentary rock substrates below the northeastern tropical Atlantic core of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) with a maximum thickness of 250mm at a water depth of 2400m. The mineralogical and chemical composition of these Fe-Mn crusts indicate a hydrogenetic origin. The main Mn minerals are vernadite with minor interlayered todorokite and asbolane-buserite. Fe oxides are essentially ferroxyhyte and goethite. The Fe-Mn crusts show high average contents in Fe (23.5wt%), Mn (16.1wt%), and trace elements like Co (4700μg/g), Ni (2800μg/g), V (2400μg/g) and Pb (1600μg/g). Rare earth elements plus yttrium (REY) averages 2800μg/g with high proportions of Ce (1600μg/g). Total platinum group elements (PGEs) average 230ng/g, with average Pt of 182ng/g. Two main types of growth layers form the crusts: 1) a dense laminae of oxides with high contents in Mn, Co and Ni associated with vernadite and Cu, Ni, and Zn associated with todorokite; 2) botryoidal layers with high contents in Fe, Ti, V and REY associated with goethite. The Fe-Mn crusts from the CISP region show higher contents in Fe, V, Pb and REY but lower Mn, Co, Ni and PGEs contents than Pacific or Indian ocean seamount crusts. The oldest maximum age of initiation of crust growth was at 76Ma (Campanian, Late Cretaceous). Using a combination of high resolution Co-chronometer and geochemical data along an Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA) transect, four stages in morphology, chemical contents and growth rates can be differentiated in the the Cenozoic crusts since 28Ma, which we interpret as due to changes in the ventilation of the North Atlantic OMZ and to the increase of Saharian dust inputs. An earliest growth period, characterized by similar contents of Fe and Mn in the interval 27.8–24.45Ma (late Oligocene-early Miocene) reflects slow precipitation related to a thick OMZ. An intermediate laminated zone with higher contents of Fe, Si and P, high growth rates reaching 4.5mm/Ma, and precipitation of Fe-Mn oxides during the interval 24.5–16Ma is related to periods of ventilation of the OMZ by intrusion of deep upwelling currents. Significant increase in Fe contents at ca. 16Ma correlates with the onset of incursions of Northern Component Waters into the North Atlantic. Finally, since 12Ma, the very low growth rates (<0.5mm/Ma) of the crust are related to a thick North Atlantic OMZ, an increase in Sahara dust input and a stable thermohaline circulation.

Special features of interaction of iron-manganese stromatolite with the environment

The analysis of the submicroscopic textures of the cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts Magellan mountains showed that biofilm - the builders of ferromanganese stromatolite - master petrogenetic components (SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , P 2 O 5 and others) from the environment and are used they for the formation of columnar structure.

서태평양 해저산의 망간각 자원평가를 위한 해저지형 특성 분석

서태평양 공해 해저산의 다중빔 음향측심자료와 해저면 영상관측 자료를 활용하여 해저산 정상부와 경사면에 피복된 망간각의 공간 분포 변화 양상을 파악하였다. 다중빔 음향측심기를 이용하여 구분된 해저산의 지형 특성은 정상부 면적의 약 70% 이상이 경사가 <TEX>$5^{\circ}$</TEX> 미만으로 비교적 평평한 지대로 이루어져 있으나 후방산란강도는 해저면의 매질변화를 지시하는 이봉분포를 보였다. 이 이봉분포에서 -30 dB이상의 높은 최빈값은 경사면과 정사부 가장자리 지역에서 우세하였으며 -30 dB이하의 낮은 최빈값은 정상부 중앙지역에서 우세하였다. 해저면 표층의 영상자료와 후방산란 자료의 연관성을 분석한 결과, 정상부 중앙지역은 경사면에 비해 상대적으로 완만한 기울기와 미교결 퇴적물만 존재하여 후방산란이 낮게 나타난다. 반면, 정상부 가장자리 및 경사면은 퇴적물이 없어 기반암이 노출되거나 망간각이 피복되어 후방산란이 높게 나타남을 보여준다. 따라서 다중빔 음향측심조사를 통해 획득된 후방산란 자료와 해저면의 퇴적물 및 망간각 분포 사이의 상관관계가 높다는 것을 알 수 있다. 이 연구결과는 다중빔 음향측심조사를 통해 획득된 후방산란 자료를 활용하면 기요형태의 해저산에 피복된 망간각의 전체적인 분포 규모를 확인할 수 있음을 의미한다. 따라서 해저산 지역의 망간각 개발 유망구역을 선별하는데 후방산란 자료가 유용하게 활용될 수 있을 것이다. We characterize the spatial distribution of Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts covering the summit and slopes of a seamount in the western Pacific, using acoustic backscatter from multibeam echo sounders (MBES) and seafloor video observation. Based on multibeam bathymetric data, we identify that ~70% of the summit area of this flattopped seamount has slope gradients less than <TEX>$5^{\circ}$</TEX>. The histogram of the backscatter intensity data shows a bi-modal distribution, indicating significant variations in seabed hardness. On the one hand, visual inspection of the seafloor using deep-sea camera data exhibits that the steep slope areas with high backscatter are mainly covered by manganese crusts. On the other hand, the visual analyses for the summit reveal that the summit areas with relatively low backscatter are covered by sediments. The other summit areas, however, exhibit high acoustic reflectivity due to coexistence of manganese crusts and sediments. Comparison between seafloor video images and acoustic backscatter intensity suggests that the central summit has relatively flat topography and low backscatter intensity resulting from unconsolidated sediments. In addition, the rim of the summit and the slopes are of high acoustic reflectivity because of manganese crusts and/or bedrock outcrops with little sediments. Therefore, we find a strong correlation between the acoustic backscatter data acquired from sea-surface multibeam survey and the spatial distribution of sediments and manganese crusts. We propose that analyzing acoustic backscatter can be one of practical methods to select optimal minable areas of the ferromanganese crusts from seamounts for future mining.

Behavior of Zn2+, Cd2+, Ba2+ and Pb2+ cations in ferromanganese crusts from the Marcus Wake seamount (Pacific Ocean) in aqueous solutions of metal salts

The behavior of heavy-metal cations in ore minerals of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from the Marcus Wake seamount in aqueous solutions of metal salts was studied in experiments. The Zn2+ and Cd2+ cations showed high reactivity and Ва2+ and Pb2+ showed low reactivity. It was found that Zn2+ and Cd2+ cations within the ore mineral composition are mainly absorbed (up to 66%) whereas Pb2+ and Ва2+ are chemically bound (up to 70%). Ore minerals in the crusts are characterized by sorption properties and high ionexchange capacity by these cations (1.94–2.62 mg-equiv/g). The capacity values by heavy-metal cations for ore minerals of the crusts from different areas of the Marcus Wake seamount are close to each other.

Peculiarities of the distribution of rare-earth elements and yttrium in mineral phases of the ferromanganese crusts from the Detroit guyot (Pacific Ocean)

The concentrations of rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY) were first determined in four major mineral fractions of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts (CMC) from the Detroit guyot at the northern latitudes of the Pacific Ocean. It was shown that REY in the CMC from these latitudes are mainly adsorbed by the manganese phase unlike the crusts of the equatorial part of the ocean where iron hydroxides are the key REY sorbents from seawater. This is caused by the variations in the hydrochemical characteristics of seawater with the latitude of the CMC formation.

Ecological functions of uncultured microorganisms in the cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust of a seamount in the central Pacific are elucidated by fosmid sequencing

Cobalt-rich ferromanganese is an important seafloor mineral and is abundantly present in the seamount crusts. Such crusts form potential hotspots for biogeochemical activity and microbial diversity, yet our understanding of their microbial communities is lacking. In this study, a cultivation-independent approach was used to recover genomic information and derive ecological functions of the microbes in a sediment sample collected from the cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust of a seamount region in the central Pacific. A total of 78 distinct clones were obtained by fosmid library screening with a 16S rRNA based PCR method. Proteobacteria and MGI Thaumarchaeota dominated the bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequence results in the microbial community. Nine fosmid clones were sequenced and annotated. Numerous genes encoding proteins involved in metabolic functions and heavy metal resistance were identified, suggesting alternative metabolic pathways and stress responses that are essential for microbial survival in the cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust. In addition, genes that participate in the synthesis of organic acids and exoploymers were discovered. Reconstruction of the metabolic pathways revealed that the nitrogen cycle is an important biogeochemical process in the cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust. In addition, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events have been observed, and most of them came from bacteria, with some occurring in archaea and plants. Clone W4-93a, belonging to MGI Thaumarchaeota, contained a region of gene synteny. Comparative analyses suggested that a high frequency of HGT events as well as genomic divergence play important roles in the microbial adaption to the deep-sea environment.

Microrhythmic distribution of Co, Mn, Ni, and La contents in cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from the Magellan Seamounts

Variations in the contents of Fe and Mn and a number of trace elements (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Pb, Th, U, Te, Ba, La, Ce, Nb, and Mo) were simultaneously measured in microlayers in samples of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts from the surface of three guyots of the Magellan Seamounts by means of synchrotron micro-XRF analysis on a VEPP-3 accelerator facility at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Micro-scale periodic variations were detected in the contents of most trace elements. The high and low contents of Co, Ni, and Mo in the crusts display also a larger scale periodicity.

Regional Distribution of Co-Rich Ferromanganese Crusts and Evolution of the Seamounts in the Northwestern Pacific

Cobalt-rich hydrogenetic ferromanganese crusts in the Pacific seamounts are potential mineral resources for Co, Ni, Pt and REEs. The Northwest (NW) Pacific, in particular, is one of the most promising areas for the ferromanganese crusts. During the six cruises of the Japanese research vessel Hakurei Maru No.2 over the seamounts of the Marshall Islands in 1996, 1998 and 2002, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in 1997, 1998 and 2005, the patterns of distribution, resource potential and the relationship to geological parameters were found to be characterized by the potentiality for the ferromanganese crusts. In this article, the relationship between crust abundance and diversity in the geological evolution of the seamounts is discussed on the basis of bathymetric, geological, geophysical and environmental data.

A comparison between manganese nodules and cobalt crust economics in a scenario of mutual exclusivity

The past 20 years have been characterised by limited interest in the economic viability of deep seabed mining with the exception of those mineral ores rich in precious metals such as polymetallic sulphides. This paper goes against the tide. After reviewing the most significant literature, it compares the economic feasibility of mining polymetallic manganese nodules and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in a scenario of mutual exclusivity. It uses a new indicator, the cobalt–nickel price ratio, whose aim is to verify at what metal prices the net present value of the two mining projects equalises. Previous research has shown that the turning margin between manganese nodules and cobalt crusts is a cobalt price of $50/kg. The present paper revises this by showing that the choice between mining crust and nodules depends on fluctuations in the price of nickel. A Monte Carlo simulation proves that cobalt crust mining could be reasonably preferred to manganese nodules at cobalt prices of $40–60/kg if the price of nickel fell below $11/kg. Within this condition, investors would receive the minimum acceptable internal rate of return of 15%, which is at a level of risk closer to the land-based mining. However, when the price of nickel passes the $11/kg threshold, the equilibrium between the two ventures can be reached only at a cobalt price greater than $100/kg, causing cobalt crust to become uncompetitive. Finally, the paper, recognising that prices are not unique drivers, introduces legal, political, technological and environmental concerns to show that the final choice between the two mining ventures cannot be merely driven by economic issues.

Distribution characteristics of seamount cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and the determination of the size of areas for exploration and exploitation

In 2001, the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) initiated the consideration relating to the Regulations for Prospecting and Exploration for Hydrothermal Polymetallic Sulphides and Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts in the Area at its 7th session. Since then, the consideration of the Regulations has been mainly focused on the size of areas to be allocated for exploration and exploitation of the crusts. This paper, based on the investigation data and the analysis of the distribution characteristics of the crusts, suggests a model for determining the size of areas for exploration and exploitation of the crusts, taking into account various factors such as production scale, crust thickness and grade, mineable area proportion, recovery efficiency, exploration venture, and so on. Through the modeling, the paper suggests that the exploration area (the area covered by each application for approval of a plan of work for exploration of cobalt-rich crusts) shall be 4 856 km2 and the exploitation area (the mine site area) shall be 1 214 km2, for 20 years of 1 million wet tonnes annual production.

Geophysical and Geological Exploration of Cobalt-rich Ferromanganese Crusts: An Attempt of Small-Scale Mapping on a Micronesian Seamount

Ferromanganese crusts in the Pacific Ocean are potential economic resources of cobalt, nickel and platinum. Previous shipboard geological and geophysical exploration has been directed towards innovation in effective methods of mapping the abundance and grade of manganese nodules on the seafloor for evaluation and mine site selection. However, any simple techniques have not been valid for complicated and variable nature of the crusts and topography. This study attempts to establish a distribution pattern of ferromanganese deposits on a Micronesian seamount using conventional narrow-beam and SSS mapping, dredge sampling Cand TV/camera monitoring with a geological interpretation. We tried to correlate acoustic remote sensing data with the surface geology, and decipher the regional-scale distribution of crusts in relation to large-scale mass wasting that took place in the early Miocene or before. The general distribution pattern of crusts over the surface of the seamount indicates that only about 40% of the apparent “acoustic outcrop” represents actual ferromanganese crust coverage. The combined method outlined here is the most useful in evaluating ferromanganese deposits, prior to possible hi-tech fine-scale mapping using submersibles, ROV and AUV.

黄鉄鉱とのガルバニック反応によるコバルト・リッチ・クラストの浸出について

Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts (cobalt crust) contain strategic metals such as copper, nickel and cobalt. In order to recover cobalt, the reduction and dissolution of manganese oxide in crusts is required because cobalt is interlocked in manganese oxide. It is known that galvanic interactions between metal sulfide minerals and manganese nodule cause oxidation-reduction reactions on them. In this study, galvanic leaching of chemical analytical MnO2 and cobalt crust has been examined in the presence of pyrite.The measurement of rest potential indicated that MnO2 was nobler than pyrite. The dissolution of the MnO2 was accelerated in the presence of pyrite because MnO2 could act as cathode to be reduced in the galvanic couple MnO2/FeS2 .The dissolution of manganese and cobalt from the cobalt crust was enhanced in the presence of pyrite, and 84% of cobalt was extracted in three days while about 1% in the absence of pyrite in sulfuric acid solution of pH0.8. The leaching of the cobalt crust has been studied under various experimental parameters such as pH, amount of pyrite and particle size.

Seamount Characteristics and Mine-Site Model Applied to Exploration- and Mining-Lease-Block Selection for Cobalt-Rich Ferromanganese Crusts

Regulations are being developed through the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) for the exploration and mining of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. This paper lays out geologic and geomorphologic criteria that can be used to determine the size and number of exploration and mine-site blocks that will be the focus of much discussion within the ISBA Council deliberations. The surface areas of 155 volcanic edifices in the central equatorial Pacific were measured and used to develop a mine-site model. The mine-site model considers areas above 2,500 m water depth as permissive, and narrows the general area available for exploration and mining to 20% of that permissive area. It is calculated that about eighteen 100 km2 exploration blocks, each composed of five 20 km2 contiguous sub-blocks, would be adequate to identify a 260 km2 20-year-mine site; the mine site would be composed of thirteen of the 20 km2 sub-blocks. In this hypothetical example, the 260 km2 mine site would be spread over four volcanic edifices and comprise 3.7% of the permissive area of the four edifices and 0.01% of the total area of those four edifices. The eighteen 100 km2 exploration blocks would be selected from a limited geographic area. That confinement area is defined as having a long dimension of not more than 1,000 km and an area of not more than 300,000 km2.

Estimation of degree of liberation in a coarse crushed product of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust/nodules and its gravity separation

Cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust and nodule ores from seamount areas contain volcanic and sedimentary rocks as substrate or nuclei. During mining operations, these rocks should be separated as unfavorable waste rocks with the ferromanganese minerals. The cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust and nodule ores require mineral processing to remove the substrate/nuclei rock before the smelting. Deep-sea manganese nodule ores in contrast contain vanishingly small rocks, and can be directly treated with a metallurgical process without mineral processing treatment. This study is a physical and chemical description of the ores for the purpose of mineral processing, and reports estimates of the degree of liberation in a coarse crushed product of ores and its gravity separation results. From the obtained results a process flow-sheet for the beneficiation of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust and nodules is proposed.

Effect of Phosphatization on Element Concentration of Cobalt-Rich Ferromanganese Crusts

A detailed study on a small scale of the effect of phosphatization on the chemistry of marine cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts supplies useful information for the evaluation and comprehensive utilization of crust mineral resources. Sub-samples from top to bottom of a 10-cm thick sample from the NW Pacific Magellan seamount were taken at 5 mm intervals. The concentration profiles of ore-forming and rare earth elements show that obvious differences exist between young unphosphatized crusts and old phosphatized crusts. In the old crusts Fe, Mn, Si, Al, Zn, Mg, Co, Ni and Cu elements are depleted and Ca, P, Sr, Ba and Pb elements are enriched. The order of depletion is Co > Ni > Mg > Al > Mn > Si > Cu > Zn > Fe, while the order of enrichment is P > Ca > Ba > Pb > Sr. The phosphate mineral controls the concentration variation of the ore-forming elements in crusts and causes loss of the main ore-forming elements such as Co and Ni. The phosphatization also affects the abundance of REEs in the crusts. REEs are more abundant and the content of Ce in old crusts is higher than that in young crusts, however, the pattern of REEs and their fractionation characteristics in new and old crusts are not fundamentally changed. A Y-positive anomaly in old crusts has no relationship to the phosphatization.

Recursos minerais marinhos além das jurisdições nacionais

The last three decades of the twentieth century were marked by intensive activities related to the development of mineral resources located in the seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. During the 70's and 80's, joint international ventures, including more than 40 mining companies and governmental agencies from 16 countries, spent hundreds of millions of dollars in locating deposits and studying methods for mining and processing the deep seabed polymetallic nodules. The Third United Nations Conferences on the Law of the Sea was held during the same period. In December 1982, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was adopted and in July 1994 the Aagreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the Convention, which part regulates the activities in the international seabed area, was adopted. The Agreement and Part XI of the Convention shall be interpreted and applied together as a single instrument. The Convention stipulates that the mineral resources of the international seabed area are common heritage of the mankind and establishes the International Seabed Authority to organize and control the activities related to the development of these mineral resources. In the mid 80's, the world economic situation declined as a result of the decrease of industrial growth. However, the mining companies were not intimidated by the situation. In their eyes, the ownership of a mining site would represent a financial, strategic and political asset that deserved to be preserved. In the 90's, seven governmental agencies submitted to the International Seabed Authority their plans of work for exploration of polymetallic nodules. As of today, six of them have already signed their contracts for exploration with the Authority. As a result, more than 1,800,000 km2 of exploration areas (more than 20% of the surface of Brazil) located in the Pacific and Indian Oceans were allocated to these governmental agencies and to the Authority to carry out exploration activities. At the present time, the Authority is in the process of developing regulations for prospecting and exploration for hydrothermal polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts located in seabed areas beyond national jurisdiction. As soon as the Authority approves these regulations, other areas may be allocated for the exploration of these resources. The beginning of the twenty-first century seems to mark the commencement of a systematic effort to develop the mineral resources located in the seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. This historical event requires a special attention from the Brazilian authorities to ensure that the international seabed mineral resources, especially those located in the South Atlantic Ocean, will constitute an economic, strategic and political asset for future Brazilian generations.