Manganese nodule growth rates determined by fossil diatom dating

Manganese nodule growth rates determined by fossil diatom dating Article

Kadko, D, Burckle, LH. (1980). Manganese nodule growth rates determined by fossil diatom dating . Nature, 287(5784), 725-726. 10.1038/287725a0

We report here that a manganese nodule from the Central Pacific manganese nodule province has been dated by fossil diatoms found in mud scraped from near the nodule's centre. The nodule was taken at DOMES Site B from Core B55-56 at 11°50.3′N and 137°28.2′W in a water depth of 4,892 m. It was resting on the sediment surface, with about 1.5 cm of the nodule bottom (of a total nodule height of 4.2 cm) buried in the mud. The top surface of the nodule was covered with a smooth manganese coating, but the bottom had a very rough, crusty texture. It was found that recent mud had leaked in through cracks in the nodule bottom, but that there were no pre-Pleistocene diatoms in this material. The date obtained was compared with the growth rate determined by the ²³⁰Th excess method and found to be in reasonable agreement. This study adds to the work of Harada^1,2 on the biostratigraphy (mainly coccoliths) of manganese nodules. © 1980 Nature Publishing Group.