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The formation of ferromanganese nodules in the southwest Indian Ocean; an abiotic process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

B. E. Van Dongen ,
N. J. Ashton  and
R. A. D. Pattrick
B. E. Van Dongen*
Affiliation:
School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
N. J. Ashton
Affiliation:
School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
R. A. D. Pattrick
Affiliation:
School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
*
* E-mail:Bart.vanDongen@manchester.ac.uk
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Abstract

Ferromanganese nodules have been recognized widely as potentially important resources for strategic metals. However it remains unclear if the formation of these nodules is purely an abiotic process or if microorganisms are involved in their formation. To determine the microbial contributions, detailed organic geochemical analyses were performed on ferromanganese nodules collected from across the southwest Indian Ocean. These analyses reveal the presence of specific terrestrial, marine and petroleum derived biomarkers, consistent with formation in a marine setting with a substantial influx of terrestrially derived (higher plant detritus) and naturally occurring petroleum-related organic matter. In contrast, only trace amounts of general bacterial biomarkers, commonly present in these types of depositional environments, were present. This indicates that the formation of these ferromanganese nodules is predominantly an abiotic process although a minor contribution from microbial mediated processes to the growth of these nodules cannot be completely ruled out.

Keywords

biomarkersarchaeabacteriasouthwestern Indian Oceanpetroleum-derived organic matterferromanganese nodule
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 78 , Issue 4 , August 2014 , pp. 941 - 955
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2014

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