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 IC 
 
 8933 
 
 Bureau of Mines Information Circular/1983 
 
 Manganese Nodule Resources of Three 
 Areas in the Northeast Pacific Ocean: 
 With Proposed Mining-Beneficiation 
 Systems and Costs 
 
 A Minerals Availability System Appraisal 
 By C. Thomas Hillman 
 
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
 

Information Circular 8933 
 
 Manganese Nodule Resources of Three 
 Areas in the Northeast Pacific Ocean: 
 With Proposed Mining-Beneficiation 
 Systems and Costs 
 
 A Minerals Availability System Appraisal 
 By C. Thomas Hillman 
 
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
 James G. Watt, Secretary 
 
 BUREAU OF MINES 
 Robert C. Horton, Director 
 
As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior 
 has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural 
 resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water re- 
 sources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and 
 cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for 
 the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses 
 our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is 
 in the best interests of all our people. The Department also has a major re- 
 sponsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who 
 live in Island Territories under U.S. administration. 
 
 
 # 
 
 This publication has been cataloged as follows: 
 
 Hillman, C. Thomas 
 
 Manganese nodule resources of three areas in the northeast Pacific 
 Ocean. 
 
 (Information circular / United States Department of the Interior, Bu- 
 reau of Mines ; 8933) 
 
 Bibliography: p. 38-40. 
 
 Supt. of Docs, no.: I 28.27:8933. 
 
 1. Manganese nodules— Pacific Ocean. 2. Ocean mining— Pacific 
 Ocean. 3. Ore-dressing. I. Title. II. Series: Information circular (United 
 States. Bureau of Mines) ; 8933. 
 
 TN295.U4 [TN490.M3] 622s [553.4'629] 83-600014 
 
 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 
 
 Washington, D.C. 20402 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 1 Abstract 1 
 
 Introduction 2 
 
 I Acknowledgments 3 
 
 I Location and geography 5 
 
 Geology 5 
 
 Geological setting 5 
 
 Deposit description 6 
 
 Mineralogy 7 
 
 Resources 8 
 
 Discussion 8 
 
 Grade and abundance estimates 8 
 
 Minable resources 12 
 
 Mining and processing technology 13 
 
 Discussion 13 
 
 Operational integration of a proposed recovery system 15 
 
 Mining 16 
 
 Transportation 20 
 
 Slurry terminal 21 
 
 Cuprion processing 23 
 
 Manganese recovery 27 
 
 Waste disposal 28 
 
 Capital and operating costs 28 
 
 Discussion 28 
 
 Capital costs 29 
 
 Operating costs 31 
 
 Cost summary 32 
 
 Financial analysis 33 
 
 Production and supply 35 
 
 Summary 37 
 
 References 38 
 
 Appendix A. — Discussion of abundance and resource estimates 41 
 
 Appendix B. — Sample station locations, abundance estimates, and analyses for 
 
 study areas A, B, and C 43 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 1. Location of the northeast Pacific high-grade zone and DOMES Sites A, B, 
 
 and C 3 
 
 2. Sediment map of the northeast Pacific Ocean, with locations of study 
 
 areas A, B, and C 4 
 
 3. Manganese nodule deposit in the northeast Pacific Ocean 6 
 
 4 . Manganese nodule polished cross section 7 
 
 5. Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in study area A.... Pocket 
 
 6. Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in subarea AII(a) 10 
 
 7. Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in study area B.... Pocket 
 
 8. Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in subarea BIII(a).... 11 
 
 9. Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in study area C... Pocket 
 
 10. Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in subarea CI 12 
 
 11. Hydraulic deep ocean mining system 17 
 
 12. Plan view of slurry receiving terminal and pumping station 22 
 
 13. Cuprion process flowsheet for recovery of nickel, copper, and cobalt.... 25 
 
 14. Generalized flowsheet of a proposed ferromanganese plant 28 
 
 1 5 . Pro j ect development schedule 34 
 
11 
 
 TABLES 
 
 Page 
 
 1. Summary of mean elemental contents, study areas A, B, and C 9 
 
 2. Average abundance and subarea size, study areas A, B, and C 9 
 
 3. Estimated minable and recoverable resources, subareas All, Bill, and CI. 13 
 
 4. Deposit characteristics affecting minability, ventures 1, 2, and 3 19 
 
 5. Mining parameters for ventures 1, 2, and 3 20 
 
 6. Characteristics of proposed 70,000-dwt nodule transports 20 
 
 7. Summary of transportation data, ventures 1, 2, and 3 21 
 
 8. Cuprion ammonia leach plant, major inputs and wastes 27 
 
 9. Mine capital costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3 29 
 
 10. Transportation capital costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3 29 
 
 11. Cuprion and ferromanganese plant capital costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3.... 30 
 
 12. Mine operating costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3 31 
 
 13. Transportation operating costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3 31 
 
 14. Cuprion and ferromanganese plant operating costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3.. 32 
 
 15. Capital cost summary, ventures 1, 2, and 3 33 
 
 16. Operating cost summary, ventures 1, 2, and 3 33 
 
 17. Total commodity revenues, ventures 1, 2, and 3 35 
 
 18. Projected rates of return, ventures 1, 2, and 3 35 
 
 19. Comparison of U.S. consumption of nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese 
 
 with potential production from ventures 1, 2, and 3 36 
 
 B-l. Subarea AI — location, abundance, and analytical data 43 
 
 B-2. Subarea All — location, abundance, and analytical data 44 
 
 B-3. Subarea AIII — location, abundance, and analytical data 47 
 
 B-4. Subarea AIV — location, abundance, and analytical data 48 
 
 B-5. Subarea AV — location, abundance, and analytical data 49 
 
 B-6. Subarea AVI — location, abundance, and analytical data 50 
 
 B-7. Study area A — location, abundance, and analytical data outside subareas. 51 
 
 B-8. Subarea BI — location, abundance, and analytical data 52 
 
 B-9. Subarea BII — location, abundance, and analytical data 53 
 
 B-10. Subarea Bill — location, abundance, and analytical data 54 
 
 B-ll. Study area B — location, abundance, and analytical data outside subareas. 56 
 
 B-12. Subarea CI — location, abundance, and analytical data 57 
 
 B-13. Subarea CII — location, abundance, and analytical data 59 
 
 B-14. Study area C — location, abundance, and analytical data outside subareas. 60 
 
Ill 
 
 UNIT OF MEASURE ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT 
 bbl/d barrel per day kn knot 
 
 cm centimeter kW*h kilowatt hour 
 
 meter 
 
 square meter 
 cubic meter 
 
 cm z 
 
 square centimeter 
 
 m 
 
 cm 3 
 
 cubic centimeter 
 
 m 2 
 
 cm/s 
 
 centimeter per second 
 
 m 3 
 
 d 
 
 day 
 
 min 
 
 ° C 
 
 degree Celsius 
 
 mm 
 
 dwt 
 
 deadweight ton 
 
 m/s 
 
 d/yr 
 
 day per year 
 
 MW 
 
 g/cm 2 
 
 gram per square centimeter 
 
 nmi 
 
 g/cm 3 
 
 gram per cubic centimeter 
 
 m 3 /min 
 
 g/L 
 
 gram per liter 
 
 pet 
 
 h 
 
 hour 
 
 t 
 
 ha 
 
 hectare 
 
 t/d 
 
 h/d 
 
 hour per day 
 
 t/h 
 
 hp 
 
 horsepower 
 
 t/km 2 
 
 kg/cm 2 
 kg/d 
 kg/m 2 
 km 
 
 kilogram per square centimeter 
 kilogram per day 
 kilogram per square meter 
 kilometer 
 
 t/yr 
 vol pet 
 wt pet 
 
 km 2 
 
 square kilometer 
 
 yr 
 
 minute 
 
 millimeter 
 
 meter per second 
 
 megawatt 
 
 nautical mile 
 
 cubic meter per minute 
 
 percent 
 
 metric ton 
 
 metric ton per day 
 
 metric ton per hour 
 
 metric ton per square 
 kilometer 
 
 metric ton per year 
 
 volume percent 
 
 weight percent 
 
 year 
 
MANGANESE NODULE RESOURCES OF THREE AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC 
 OCEAN: WITH PROPOSED MINING-BENEFICIATION SYSTEMS AND COSTS 
 
 A Minerals Availability System Appraisal 
 By C. Thomas Hillman 1 
 
 ABSTRACT 
 
 The practical concern of economic minability of large, high-grade man- 
 ganese nodule deposits in the northeast Pacific Ocean is addressed in 
 this Bureau of Mines report. Principal objectives are to (1) estimate 
 tonnage and grade of deposits with significant potential and (2) de- 
 scribe and estimate profitability of operations designed to mine and 
 process deposits with greatest apparent potential. 
 
 Analysis of data from over 800 ship stations identified three areas 
 for detailed study. Average metal contents of these areas range 
 from 1.30 to 1.45 wt pet nickel, 1.00 to 1.24 wt pet copper, 0.21 to 
 0.26 wt pet cobalt, and 26.8 to 27.8 wt pet manganese. Estimated recov- 
 erable nodule resources are 67.0, 66.9, and 148.8 million dry metric 
 tons (t). 
 
 A system to mine, transport, and process nodules from the three sites 
 is described and costed. Although hypothetical, the system utilizes 
 hydraulic mining and Cuprion (Kennecott) processing, which have been 
 successfully tested at pilot scale. Nickel, copper, and cobalt are the 
 three primary products, but ferromanganese is a considered option. 
 
 Estimated capital requirements are approximately $1.5 to $1.7 billion 
 for three-metal production. If ferromanganese were recovered, an addi- 
 tional investment of about $130 million would be required. Operating 
 costs range from $71 to $83 per dry metric ton of nodules without man- 
 ganese, and from $103 to $123 per dry metric ton with ferromanganese. 
 Discounted cash flow analyses predict low returns, ranging from 2.7 to 
 5.2 pet with ferromanganese and from 4.1 to 6.0 pet without. 
 
 1 Physical scientist, Western Field Operations Center, Bureau of Mines, Spokane, WA. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Deep ocean manganese nodule deposits, 
 representing a very large source of the 
 metals nickel, copper, cobalt, and manga- 
 nese, are the subject of continuing in- 
 ternational controversy. The central 
 issue is ownership and control, because 
 the largest and highest grade deposits 
 generally are in the deep ocean beyond 
 territorial limits. Despite controversy, 
 a substantial amount of exploration has 
 occurred during the last 10 to 15 yr. 
 
 Various mining consortia with U.S., 
 Canadian, European, and Japanese partners 
 have prospected large areas of the 
 world's oceans, especially the region 
 known as the northeast Pacific high-grade 
 zone. This area extends from about 
 110° W to 160° W longitude and 5° N to 
 20° N latitude, and is presently the area 
 of primary commercial interest. Indica- 
 tions are that many potential minesites 
 have been discovered and explored to 
 varying degrees (28) . 2 Because of high 
 exploration costs, uncertain political 
 climate, and the competitive nature of 
 the business, most information has been 
 kept proprietary. This policy ,- although 
 proper, fuels the ownership controversy, 
 because there is a belief by many that 
 manganese nodules represent a source of 
 tremendous profit for those in a position 
 to grasp it. The fact that large, high- 
 grade deposits exist, however, does not 
 guarantee profit can be attained from 
 their exploitation. 
 
 While much has been written concerning 
 nodule resources, conceptual mine-process 
 systems, and economics, no published work 
 is available which addresses the question 
 of profitability of mining a specific 
 
 2 Underlined numbers in parentheses re- 
 fer to items in the list of references 
 preceding the appendixes. 
 
 nodule deposit. Therefore, the purposes 
 of this report are to analyze available 
 information on deposits in the northeast 
 Pacific high-grade zone in an attempt to 
 identify areas of high grade and abun- 
 dance, and determine their minability and 
 profitability based on existing technol- 
 ogy and economics. A final purpose, 
 irrespective of profitability, is to ana- 
 lyze the potential beneficial impacts 
 nodule production could have on the U.S. 
 supply of nickel, copper, cobalt, and 
 manganese. 
 
 The study was performed as part of the 
 Bureau of Mines minerals availability 
 program to inventory and assess the 
 availability of nonfuel minerals. The 
 basis for this program consists of evalu- 
 ations of individual deposits. Each de- 
 posit report normally includes geological 
 and geographical descriptions , resource- 
 reserve estimates, mining and beneficia- 
 tion plans, and an economic analysis. 
 These same elements are present in this 
 report, which is in reality a specialized 
 and expanded minerals availability depos- 
 it report. 
 
 Resource information was gathered dur- 
 ing the past 5 yr, through Bureau of 
 Mines grants to Scripps Institution of 
 Oceanography and Washington State Univer- 
 sity, and by contacts with personnel of 
 the U.S. Geological Survey (26-28). Much 
 data were developed as a spinoff of proj- 
 ect DOMES (Deep Ocean Mining Environ- 
 mental Study) carried out by the National 
 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
 (NOAA). DOMES was a detailed investiga- 
 tion of the deep ocean environment of 
 three potential minesites (A, B, and C) 
 and a determination of possible effects 
 of nodule mining. Figure 1 shows the 
 northeast Pacific high-grade zone and 
 locations of the three DOMES sites. 
 
FIGURE 1. - Location of the northeast Pacific high-grade zone and DOMES Sites A, B, and C. 
 
 Resource data consist of nodule assays 
 (dry weight percent), populations (per- 
 cent of seafloor covered with nodules), 
 and abundances (weight per unit area) 
 from more than 800 ship stations situated 
 in three broad areas encompassing DOMES 
 Sites A, B, and C (Fig. 2). Because of 
 apparent high grade and abundance, spe- 
 cific deposits within these areas are 
 believed to have significant economic 
 potential. A proposed system to mine, 
 transport, and beneficiate nodules from 
 these areas is described and costed. 
 
 Although no attempt was made to opti- 
 mize either capacity or location of 
 processing facility, the system repre- 
 sents a likely approach to recovery of 
 these resources. A financial analysis, 
 based on derived costs, was completed us- 
 ing a Bureau of Mines mine simulator com- 
 puter program (MINSIM4). A discussion of 
 results precedes a short analysis of 
 the potential for reducing U.S. depen- 
 dence on imports of nickel, cobalt, and 
 manganese. 
 
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
 The author expresses appreciation to 
 Dr. John Flipse, ocean mining consultant, 
 College Station, TX; Benjamin V. Andrews, 
 ocean transportation consultant, Menlo 
 
 Park, CA; and Dr. Francis Brown, process 
 engineer, EIC Corp., Newton, MA; who pro- 
 vided technical and cost information. 
 
r f 
 
 
LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHY 
 
 The northeast Pacific high-grade zone, 
 presently the area of greatest commercial 
 interest, stretches from south of Baja 
 California at 110° W longitude to nearly 
 160° W longitude south of Hawaii; it 
 encompasses approximately 10 million km 2 . 
 Study areas A, B, and C are about 4,600, 
 3,800, and 3,300 km, respectively, south- 
 west of Los Angeles, CA. The best de- 
 posits generally lie between the promi- 
 nent Clipperton and Clarion Fault zones . 
 
 Climate in the entire region is typical 
 of the trade winds zone. The northeast 
 trade winds blow steadily, but moderate- 
 ly, throughout the year (37) . Rainfall 
 is slight, increasing somewhat near the 
 equator. Tropical storms and typhoons, 
 usually lasting 1 or 2 days, occur pri- 
 marily in summer months. A 10-yr survey 
 indicates an average of 3.6, 4.4, and 2.9 
 storms per month for July, August, and 
 September, respectively. The average for 
 1966-75 was 15 storms per year. Air tem- 
 peratures at sea level average 25° C for 
 the year; monthly averages vary only a 
 degree or two ( 48 ) . 
 
 Surface currents in the region of 
 interest are largely controlled by 
 
 wind (37) . The prevailing current , the 
 North Equatorial Current, generally flows 
 from an east-northeast direction, split- 
 ting into several branches and eddies . 
 Velocity measurements during the fall of 
 1975 and 1976 averaged 17 cm/s at the 
 surface. The current decreases to zero 
 at a depth of approximately 160 m and 
 then reverses, flowing eastward at a ve- 
 locity of 5.4 cm/s at 300-m depth. 
 
 Data on bottom currents in study area C 
 are not available, yet existing water 
 mass characteristics and theoretical 
 studies indicate a net eastward flow at 
 low velocities (37). Measurements at the 
 other two study areas indicate average 
 velocities of 2.1 cm/s in DOMES Site A, 
 and 5.2 cm/s in DOMES Site B. A mean 
 westward movement was recorded ( 37 ) , but 
 may be a result of the short duration of 
 the measurement. 
 
 Assumptions made, based on the previous 
 discussion, are that surface and bottom 
 currents would not significantly hinder 
 mining operations, but that tropical 
 storms would preclude mining from 30 to 
 40 days each year. 
 
 GEOLOGY 
 
 GEOLOGICAL SETTING 
 
 The area of interest falls within the 
 Eastern Pacific Sedimentary Basin. Sea- 
 mounts are in all parts of the basin, but 
 are most prevalent near the east and 
 west margins. Groups of sediment-covered 
 abyssal hills ( 33 ) , characteristically 
 elongated and parallel to one another, 
 are the most dominant topographic fea- 
 ture. Crest-to-crest distances are vari- 
 able, but typically range from 5 to 10 km 
 (36) . Local relief is generally low, but 
 may reach 300 m. Slopes average 2° to 6° 
 and generally do not exceed 15° except in 
 areas of current scour or fault scarps 
 (38) . Commonly , parallel scarps impart a 
 stairstep effect on hillsides accompanied 
 by sediment slumping and exposure of 
 underlying basement rock. 
 
 Water depths ranging from 3,600 to 
 5,500 m increase to the north and west 
 away from the Clipperton and Clarion 
 Fault zones and the East Pacific Rise 
 (spreading center). Accretion of basalt 
 crust within the narrow spreading center 
 and progressive outward movement results 
 in a pattern of systematic aging in a 
 westerly direction ( 39 ) . Crustal ages 
 are mostly Oligocene in study area C, 
 Paleocene in study area B, and Late Cre- 
 taceous in study area A. 
 
 In the northeast Pacific Ocean, distri- 
 bution of sediments is strongly influ- 
 enced by proximity to volcanic islands 
 and other topographic highs , biological 
 productivity of surface waters , and the 
 increase of calcium carbonate solubility 
 with depth (49) . 
 
Pelagic clays are dominant north of the 
 Clarion fracture zone and in large irreg- 
 ular areas south of it (fig. 2). These 
 sediments are reddish-brown to chocolate 
 colored, and are composed mainly of the 
 clay minerals illite, smectite, and kao- 
 linite. Because dissolution of fossil 
 remains is nearly as rapid as deposition, 
 organic remains are generally less than 
 30 pet. This is attributable to a de- 
 crease in biological activity away from 
 the equator, and an increase in water 
 depths. Sediment accumulation rates are 
 very low, probably from 1 to 3 mm per 
 1,000 yr (37). 
 
 Between the Clipperton and Clarion 
 fracture zones, siliceous ooze and sili- 
 ceous clay are the most widespread sedi- 
 ments. These are mostly clay minerals, 
 but contain significant organic remains; 
 in the case of ooze, at least 30 pet. 
 Organic material is predominantly Quater- 
 nary radiolaria, diatoms, sponge spic- 
 ules, and silicof lagellates. Accumula- 
 tion rates are believed to be from 3 to 
 8 mm per 1,000 yr. 
 
 Calcareous sediments cover tops of iso- 
 lated seamounts and the seafloo'r in the 
 southwest corner of the high-grade zone, 
 but the most widespread occurrences are 
 south of the Clipperton fracture zone. 
 Coccoliths and foraminifera are the chief 
 constituents; other materials include 
 siliceous fossils, volcanic glass, and 
 clay minerals. Accumulation rates are 
 variable, ranging from 10 to more than 
 100 mm per 1,000 yr depending on depths 
 and surface activities (49) . 
 
 Volcanic ash is the dominant sediment 
 surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, over- 
 lapping and burying siliceous ooze and 
 clay northwest of study area A. Terrige- 
 nous sediments, graded and ungraded, 
 blanket the ocean floor adjacent to the 
 North American Continent, but do not ex- 
 tend beyond a few hundred kilometers. 
 Sediment accumulation rates and thick- 
 nesses in these environments are extreme- 
 ly variable. In the three study areas, 
 total sediment thicknesses are thought to 
 average as follows, in meters: area A, 
 
 250; area B, 200; and area C, 100. Wet 
 bulk densities of sediments probably 
 average from 1.2 to 1.3 g/cm 3 (37) . Sed- 
 iments higher in biogenic debris are 
 slightly less dense, because they con- 
 tain more water. Vane shear strength, 
 which is an indicator of load-bearing 
 strength, is variable, but may average 
 about 20 g/cm 2 at the sediment surface. 
 This increases rapidly to 100 g/cm 2 at a 
 depth of 15 cm. Below 15 cm, sediment 
 strengths are believed to remain nearly 
 constant (37) . 
 
 DEPOSIT DESCRIPTION 
 
 Nodule deposits occur mainly as irregu- 
 lar, single-layer fields at the sediment- 
 water interface (fig. 3). Additional 
 nodules buried in sediment within a meter 
 of the ocean floor surface compose an 
 amount approximately equal to 25 pet of 
 those on the surface. Few nodules occur 
 below 1-m depth ( 39 ) . Within the high- 
 grade zone, nodule sizes range from less 
 than a millimeter (micronodules) to many 
 centimeters in diameter. Nodule popula- 
 tions range from to nearly 100 pet. 
 
 Highest populations and grades are usu- 
 ally associated with siliceous oozes 
 and clays (19) . Sedimentation rates are 
 very low, usually a few millimeters per 
 1,000 yr; total sediment thickness is 
 less than 300 m. 
 
 ''*-. 
 
 
 
 fi <&+ 
 
 
 "As** V«^ 
 
 V 
 
 v. 
 
 Am 
 
 
 rfi ***** &X&S& 
 
 FIGURE 3. - Manganese nodule deposit in the 
 northeast Pacific Ocean. Note irregular distri- 
 bution and partial burial of nodules. 
 
Individual nodules are dull, earthy 
 brown to lustrous blue black, with vari- 
 able shapes. Characteristically, small 
 nodules are spheroidal, and progressively 
 larger nodules are ellipsoidal, and 
 finally discoidal. Sorem and Fewkes ( 43 ) 
 attribute this phenomenon to unequal 
 growth. Bottom portions, nested in sedi- 
 ment, accrete more rapidly than exposed 
 tops. Irregular shapes, differing from 
 the typical forms, are common. This 
 characteristic is a result of natural ag- 
 glomeration of smaller nodules, and the 
 tendency of nodules to reflect the mor- 
 phology of irregularly shaped nuclei. 
 
 Surface textures range from smooth to 
 granular, the apparent result of differ- 
 ent growth patterns of constituent ox- 
 ides. Porosity and internal surface area 
 of individual nodules are high, about 
 50 pet and 200 to 300 m 2 , respective- 
 ly (35). As a result, most nodules con- 
 tain about 30 wt pet sea water; wet spe- 
 cific gravity ranges from 2.0 to 2.5 
 
 MINERALOGY 
 
 Ferromanganese nodules are typically 
 composed of one or more nuclei surrounded 
 by discontinuous layers of manganese and 
 iron oxides. This imparts an onionpeel 
 structure observed in cross section (31) . 
 Clay layers occur at irregular intervals 
 between the oxide phases, possibly sig- 
 naling periods of nongrowth. Radial and 
 concentric fracturing are nearly univer- 
 sal in larger nodules (fig. 4). 
 
 According to Sorem and Fewkes (43) , 
 northeast Pacific nodules are composed 
 mainly of dense top layers of amorphous 
 iron oxides, whereas the bottom layers 
 are generally intergrowths of the hydrous 
 crystalline manganese oxides, todorokite 
 and birnessite. Minor quantities of the 
 mineral, 6-Mn0 2 also occur. Todorokite 
 and birnessite are believed to contain 
 the bulk of nickel and copper present in 
 nodules. These two metals may be carried 
 by lattice substitution, ion exchange, or 
 
 FIGURE 4. - Manganese nodule polished cross section. The large clay-rich nucleus is sur- 
 rounded by concentric layers of metal-rich oxides (light) and clay (dark). 
 
 (Courtesy IF 1/ Plenum and Washington Slate Unii: entity.) 
 
adsorption ( 35 ) . The cobalt association 
 is more obscure. However, recent work 
 indicates that in high-cobalt nodules the 
 element is preferentially enriched in 
 
 manganese oxide phases. Conversely, in 
 nodules with lower cobalt, iron oxides 
 contain most of the element (21). 
 
 RESOURCES 
 
 DISCUSSION 
 
 In this report, grades assigned to 
 deposits are based on X-ray fluorescence 
 spectrometry and atomic absorption analy- 
 ses of nodules. Analytical data were ob- 
 tained from many sources and have been 
 carefully screened. As an example, as- 
 says of specific nodule parts, such as 
 nuclei, outer layers, etc., were dis- 
 carded and only analyses of whole nodules 
 or representative portions retained. 3 
 
 Detailed studies of samples from DOMES 
 Site C (11) show that the arithmetic mean 
 of metal contents at individual sample 
 sites can be predicted within ±10 pet, 
 and at a 90-pct confidence level, with 
 relatively few assays. For example, at 
 76 pet of the sites sampled, means for 
 nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, iron, 
 and zinc can be estimated from less than 
 20 nodule analyses per site. If only 
 nickel and copper are of interest, the 
 mean can be predicted at 86 pet of the 
 sample locations with analyses of just 
 11 nodules per site. The study (11) also 
 shows that variations in metal contents 
 may be greater between nodules in the 
 same sample than between sample averages 
 from nearby, yet different locations. 
 This phenomenon is probably the result of 
 variations in metal content between dif- 
 ferent size nodules. Comparisons of hun- 
 dreds of analyses by Frazer (22) support 
 the observations of Fewkes (11-13) , and 
 indicate arithmetic means can be accu- 
 rately predicted for sample stations in 
 large areas of the high-grade zone with 
 relatively few analyses. 
 
 Nodule abundances (weight per unit 
 area) and consequently resource quanti- 
 ties calculated from them are more 
 
 3 See Frazer (^2 ) , Fisk (J_4) , and Frazer 
 and Fisk (20-21 ) for data, references, 
 and discussion. See Fewkes (11-13) for 
 additional information and discussion. 
 
 difficult to determine. Despite the fact 
 that nodule deposits cover very large 
 areas of the seafloor, local nodule popu- 
 lations are extremely variable. Over 
 distances of a few meters, abundances may 
 range from near to 10 or 15 kg/m 2 . 
 Ideally, sampling is conducted on a grid 
 basis, with bottom photography or tele- 
 vision surveys between sample points. By 
 necessity, however, estimates in this re- 
 port are based on randomly located sam- 
 ples and on series of photographs taken 
 sequentially along linear track lines. 
 This is because the original purpose of 
 the work was research, rather than re- 
 source evaluation. 
 
 Factors relating to abundance and re- 
 source estimates from seafloor photo- 
 graphs and in situ sampling are discussed 
 in appendix A. Because detailed site- 
 specific data are unavailable to calcu- 
 late photograph correction factors and 
 because some sampling devices may lose 
 portions of samples, estimates in this 
 report are probably conservative, and are 
 considered "minimum" values. Costing and 
 system descriptions in succeeding sec- 
 tions are based on these minimum values. 
 
 GRADE AND ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES 
 
 Based on available data, estimates of 
 grades and abundances are made for depos- 
 its in study areas A, B, and C. These 
 three large areas are divided into sev- 
 eral smaller ones (subareas) on the basis 
 of station locations, nodule grades, and 
 abundances. Rectangular boundaries are 
 used for convenience and do not neces- 
 sarily enclose or delimit any single 
 deposit. In reality, an area large 
 enough to support commercial mining may 
 contain several distinct deposits. 
 
 Assigned grades are simply the average 
 of arithmetic means of samples at indi- 
 vidual sites within subarea boundaries. 
 Abundances are likewise averages of 
 
abundance estimates for individual sta- 
 tions. Abundance estimates determined 
 from actual samples were not differenti- 
 ated from those derived from photographs , 
 nor was any greater significance attached 
 to them. 
 
 regarded by some ( 18 ) to be a minimum 
 requirement for a potential minesite. Of 
 the remaining subareas only AIV appears 
 to contain deposits grading well below 
 the estimated requirement of 2.3 wt pet 
 nickel plus copper. 
 
 Station locations, average grades, and 
 other information are illustrated in fig- 
 ures 5 through 10 (figs. 5, 7, and 9 are 
 in pocket at end of report). Figures 6, 
 8, and 10 are enlargements of intensely 
 sampled areas, which could not be proper- 
 ly shown on a small-scale map. Numbers 
 next to sample points are keyed to cor- 
 responding index numbers in Appendix B, 
 which is a series of tables containing 
 index numbers, locations, population es- 
 timates, abundance estimates, nodule 
 assays, and statistical summaries. Indi- 
 vidual tables are included for each sub- 
 area within study areas A, B, and C. 
 Data for samples outside subarea bound- 
 aries are listed in separate tables. 
 
 Table 1 is a summary of analytical data 
 contained in Appendix B. Grades assigned 
 to deposits in subareas All, AIII, Bill, 
 CI, and CII average 2.3 wt pet or greater 
 nickel plus copper. This figure is 
 
 A summary of available abundance data 
 and subarea size is contained in table 2. 
 For convenience, abundances are given in 
 both wet kilograms per square meter and 
 dry metric tons per square kilometer. 
 Subareas All, AIV, and CI appear to con- 
 tain significantly high abundances, while 
 AIII and Bill apparently contain medium 
 abundances , and AV has low abundances . 
 No estimates are available for the re- 
 maining five subareas. 
 
 Consideration of grade, abundance, and 
 size (square kilometers) indicates three 
 of the subareas (All, Bill, and CI) have 
 the greatest economic potential, because 
 deposits are high grade, and occur over 
 large areas in sufficient abundance to 
 support mining for a reasonable length of 
 time (i.e., 20 yr) . The proposed mining 
 and benef iciation systems and economic 
 analyses address these three subareas 
 only. 
 
 TABLE 1 . - Summary of mean elemental 
 contents, study areas A, B, and C, 
 weight-percent 1 
 
 Subarea 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 0.98 
 
 0.21 
 
 0.04 
 
 24.2 
 
 7.4 
 
 All 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.00 
 
 .21 
 
 .05 
 
 27.8 
 
 7.1 
 
 AIII... 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.19 
 
 .22 
 
 .05 
 
 26.5 
 
 7.3 
 
 AIV 
 
 .96 
 
 .67 
 
 .28 
 
 
 20.2 
 
 10.0 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.20 
 
 .21 
 
 
 26.2 
 
 5.7 
 
 AVI.... 
 
 1.13 
 
 1.10 
 
 .17 
 
 .04 
 
 24.3 
 
 6.9 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .84 
 
 .23 
 
 
 22.0 
 
 6.1 
 
 BII 
 
 1.18 
 
 .92 
 
 .23 
 
 .06 
 
 24.3 
 
 6.3 
 
 Bill... 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.24 
 
 .25 
 
 .07 
 
 27.2 
 
 5.2 
 
 
 1.33 
 
 1.04 
 
 .26 
 
 .07 
 
 26.8 
 
 6.9 
 
 CII 
 
 1.39 
 
 .96 
 
 .17 
 
 .07 
 
 27.7 
 
 8.5 
 
 L Dry-weight basis 
 
 NOTE. —Blank 
 available. 
 
 indicates no information 
 
 TABLE 2. - Average abundance and subarea 
 size, study areas A, B, and C 
 
 Subarea 
 
 AI... 
 All.. 
 AIII. 
 AIV.. 
 AV... 
 AVI.. 
 BI.., 
 BII., 
 Bill, 
 CI.., 
 CII., 
 
 Esti- 
 mates 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 16 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 74 
 
 59 
 
 
 
 Abundance 1 
 
 Wet, 
 kg/m 2 
 
 NAp 
 8.8 
 6.2 
 9.2 
 3.4 
 NAp 
 NAp 
 NAp 
 5.3 
 11.7 
 NAp 
 
 Dry, 
 t/km 2 
 
 NAp 
 
 6,200 
 
 4,300 
 
 6,400 
 
 2,400 
 
 NAp 
 
 NAp 
 
 NAp 
 
 3,700 
 
 8,200 
 
 NAp 
 
 Subarea 
 
 size , 
 
 km 2 
 
 43,700 
 36,000 
 17,000 
 22,100 
 24,100 
 18,500 
 12,500 
 10,900 
 64,600 
 57,600 
 35,800 
 
 Not applicable; no estimates, 
 nodules contain approximately 30 
 wt pet free water. 
 
 NAp 
 L Wet 
 
10 
 
 146.1° 
 
 146.0" 
 
 145.9' 
 
 145.8' 
 
 141-144 
 150 <***» <»133 
 
 1 49— ^^^^ 1 46- 1 48 
 
 CXK K1 •145 
 
 71-75? I 65 " 70 
 
 • 57 
 
 9.5° 
 
 151-154 
 
 173 
 
 76-80 58-64 
 
 ,140 
 
 9.4' 
 
 J&157-160 Ojm<9. 
 ,172^ 131f3(fl29 128 
 
 \ 
 
 ( **^ a 10810 
 ]j£ 109-112 
 
 LEGEND 
 
 O Ni plus Cu <L8 wt pet 
 3 Ni plus Cu 1.8 - 2.3 wt pet 
 • Ni plus Cu>2.3 wt pet 
 Numbers next to symbols coincide 
 with index numbers in Appendix B. 
 
 5200 
 
 9.3° 
 
 9.2' 
 
 10 
 
 -I 
 
 Scale, km 
 
 Bathymetric contours in meters 
 below mean sea level 
 
 146.1° 146.0° 145.9° 145.8 
 
 FIGURE 6. - Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in subarea All(a). 
 
11 
 
 140.2° 
 
 140.1' 
 
 140.0° 
 
 451,452 
 
 495 
 
 496,497 4gg 
 
 444 
 
 M87 
 *y ^443484 
 
 ^ a'a 481 
 
 454 
 
 489 
 498 
 500 
 445 446 50 1-^P\ 
 
 448^ a •! SO 5 * *0 
 
 AT a5o^ 
 
 442 
 
 441 
 # A-485 
 r\A— 482 
 ^V 440 
 ^50^488,490,491 
 
 486 
 
 492/^0) 439 
 
 LEGEND 
 
 ^ No nodules observed or recovered 
 
 As Nodules present, no assay 
 O Ni plus Cu< 1.8 wt pet 
 
 3 Ni plus Cu 1.8-2.3 wt pet 
 
 • Ni plus Cu>2.3 wt pet 
 
 Numbers next to symbols coincide 
 
 with index numbers in Appendix B 
 I 
 
 10 
 
 Scale, km 
 
 Bathymetric contours in meters 
 
 below mean sea level 
 
 11.2 s 
 
 11.1' 
 
 11.0* 
 
 10.9 C 
 
 140.0° 140.1° 140.2° 
 
 FIGURE 8. - Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in subarea Blll(a) 
 
12 
 
 127.0° 
 
 126.0° 
 
 125.0° 
 
 16.0° 
 
 15.0° 
 
 14.0 
 
 126.0° 125.0° 
 
 FIGURE 10. - Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in subarea CI. 
 
 14.0° 
 
 MINABLE RESOURCES 
 
 Gross tonnage estimates for potential 
 minesites can be very misleading. A 
 series of practical considerations sig- 
 nificantly lower the resource quantity 
 that will actually be recovered. At any 
 given site in the northeast Pacific there 
 are fault scarps, basalt outcrops, exces- 
 sive slope angles, and other seafloor 
 
 features that reduce the usable portion 
 of a deposit area to an estimated 75 pet 
 of initial size ( 34 ) . Of the remaining 
 area, the abundance of deposits in pos- 
 sibly one-third of it is insufficient to 
 warrant mining. This means that about 
 half the original area has a minable re- 
 source. Furthermore, not all minable re- 
 source will be recovered because pickup 
 efficiencies of presently envisioned mine 
 
13 
 
 TABLE 3. - Estimated minable and recoverable resources, subareas 
 All, Bill, and CI 
 
 Average abundance dry t/km 2 . . 
 
 Minable area 1 km 2 . . 
 
 Minable resource million dry t.. 
 
 Minable nodules traversed pet. . 
 
 Pickup efficiency pet. . 
 
 Mining efficiency 2 pet . . 
 
 Recoverable resources ^ million dry t.. 
 
 All 
 
 6,200 
 
 18,000 
 
 111.6 
 
 70 
 
 85 
 
 60 
 
 67.0 
 
 Bill 
 
 3,700 
 
 32,300 
 
 119.5 
 
 70 
 
 80 
 
 56 
 
 66.9 
 
 CI 
 
 8,200 
 28,800 
 
 236.2 
 70 
 90 
 63 
 
 148.8 
 
 *50 pet of total minesite area. 
 
 2 Minable nodules traversed times pickup efficiency. 
 
 3 Minable resource times mining efficiency. 
 
 systems are expected to be no more than 
 80 to 90 pet. Pickup efficiency will 
 vary because of dissimilar abundances, 
 and other physical factors. Also, maneu- 
 vering and control limitations mean that 
 only about 70 pet of the minable nodules 
 will be traversed, thus mining efficiency 
 will average about 60 pet. Considering 
 all these factors, approximately 30 pet 
 of the potential resource from a given 
 deposit area will be recovered. This low 
 
 percentage will probably increase with 
 mining experience. 
 
 Based on the above analysis, table 3 
 contains estimates of both minable 
 and recoverable resources for subareas 
 All, Bill, and CI. These estimates serve 
 as a resource base for the proposed 
 mining-transportation-benef iciation sys- 
 tems described in succeeding sections. 
 
 MINING AND PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY 
 
 DISCUSSION 
 
 Major ocean mining consortia are in 
 various stages of designing, building, 
 and testing manganese nodule mining 
 and processing systems. Presently, two 
 mining-lift systems have been tested in 
 both experimental facilities and at sea. 
 The first, a continuous line bucket sys- 
 tem consists of a 10-cm-diameter polypro- 
 pylene line with drag buckets attached at 
 regular intervals. A loop is played 
 overboard and allowed to trail on the 
 ocean floor. Traction devices on either 
 one or two ships provide lateral movement 
 as the loop is towed forward. Buckets 
 remain attached as the rope moves through 
 the friction drives and are emptied. The 
 obvious advantage of this system is its 
 simplicity. However, tests by the CNEXO 
 (French) and Sumitomo consortia in the 
 1970' s, were not successful, apparently 
 because of tangling and low nodule recov- 
 eries. Development of this system ap- 
 pears to have been terminated. 
 
 The second system is hydraulic and con- 
 sists of a nodule collector unit attached 
 to a mining ship by a steel pipeline. 
 The pipe serves as both a towing means 
 and a conduit for raising nodules. Lift 
 is provided by either submersible hydrau- 
 lic pumps or high-pressure air injected 
 at a predetermined depth (air lift). 
 Bubbles create upward movement in the 
 pipe column as they rise and expand. 
 One-fifth scale tests of hydraulic units 
 were successfully conducted in 1978 by 
 both the INCO and Deepsea Ventures con- 
 sortia. Approximately 1,300 t of nodules 
 were dredged from two sites in the north- 
 east Pacific. Water depths were approxi- 
 mately 4,500 and 5,000 m. 
 
 A variety of processing schemes have 
 been proposed for recovering value metals 
 from nodules; the most promising have 
 been tested in small pilot plants. Sig- 
 nificant research has been directed 
 towards development of four processes: 
 (1) the Kennecott (Cuprion) process and 
 
14 
 
 (2) the high-temperature sulfuric acid 
 leach, both designed to recover primarily 
 nickel, copper and cobalt; (3) the INCO 
 process; and, (4) Deepsea Ventures pro- 
 cesses, recovering manganese as well as 
 nickel, copper, and cobalt. 
 
 The Deepsea Ventures (Ocean Mining As- 
 sociates) process is based on reaction of 
 the manganese-iron hydroxide matrix with 
 hydrochloric acid (HC1) to produce solu- 
 ble iron and manganese chlorides, and 
 thereby releasing metal values. Ferric 
 chloride is removed by solvent extraction 
 and oxidized to produce recyclable HC1 
 and iron oxide. Copper, and then nickel, 
 cobalt, and molybdenum are separated by 
 liquid ion exchange (LIX) from the chlo- 
 ride solution and electrowon in separate 
 chloride circuits. Manganese metal is 
 recovered by either fused salt electroly- 
 sis or reduction with aluminum metal. 
 Alternately, manganese oxide can be re- 
 covered by high-temperature hydrolysis of 
 MnCl 2 . 
 
 The number and diversity of patents is- 
 sued on the process suggests problems 
 have been experienced (35) . One diffi- 
 culty is the large consumption - of HC1 
 (makeup requirement about 50 pet) during 
 initial reduction and accompanying pro- 
 duction of chlorine, which is not uti- 
 lized in the remainder of the process. 
 The gas must be marketed as a byproduct, 
 exchanged with a polyvinyl monomer pro- 
 ducer for excess hydrogen chloride, or 
 reconverted to HC1. Although only minor 
 problems occur in metal extraction and 
 electrowinning from chloride solutions, 
 Deepsea Ventures has not developed a 
 satisfactory method to convert the man- 
 ganese oxide intermediate product to a 
 usable end product (f erromanganese) . 
 According to Monhemius (35) , Metallurgie 
 Hoboken-Overpelt , a new member of the 
 consortium through its corporate ties 
 with Union Miniere (Belgium) , recently 
 developed system modifications that may 
 resolve some of these problems. 
 
 The INCO process is a combination of 
 pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical 
 methods that have been used in the 
 processing of terrestrial ores. Stock- 
 piled ore, containing about 30 pet water, 
 
 is dried and then selectively reduced at 
 1,400° C. Two phases are produced; a 
 manganese-rich slag and an iron- 
 nickel-copper-cobalt alloy. The alloy is 
 oxidized to remove most iron and manga- 
 nese; and next converted to a sulfide 
 matte by the addition of pyrite, gypsum, 
 and coke. It is then reoxidized (blown) 
 to remove residual iron. Slags are re- 
 turned to reduction and smelting fur- 
 naces. The remaining matte is ground and 
 pressure leached with sulfuric acid; 
 metals are recovered by solvent extrac- 
 tion, electrowinning, and precipitation. 
 Ferromanganese, with acceptable manganese 
 to phosphorous ratios, is produced from 
 the manganese slag by reduction smelting 
 with lime at 1,600° C. 
 
 INCO's method has some distinct advan- 
 tages. First, nearly all manganese and 
 much of the iron is removed in a molten 
 slag, which can be used to produce ferro- 
 manganese. Second, other valuable com- 
 modities are concentrated into an alloy 
 phase, which weighs less than 10 pet of 
 the original feed (35) . Treatment of 
 this smaller quantity of material is 
 relatively cheap compared with other 
 processes and most of the commercial 
 technology already exists (8). The prin- 
 cipal disadvantage of this process is the 
 high energy requirements for drying and 
 smelting. 
 
 The high-temperature sulfuric acid 
 leach process, which has been investi- 
 gated in European laboratories (_7) , is an 
 adaptation of the technique used to re- 
 cover nickel from laterites at Moa Bay, 
 Cuba. Raw, wet nodules are ground, mixed 
 with concentrated sulfuric acid, and 
 heated to about 250° C. At this tempera- 
 ture, most of the copper, nickel, and co- 
 balt are dissolved, while little iron or 
 manganese enter solution; thereby, sub- 
 sequent purification steps are simpli- 
 fied, and acid consumption is minimized. 
 Value metals are recovered from the 
 cooled leach effluent by essentially the 
 same sequence of steps used in the hydro- 
 metallurgical portion of the smelting 
 process. 
 
 Because of high temperatures and acid- 
 ities in the leaching step, care must be 
 
15 
 
 taken in selecting materials for con- 
 struction. Another potential drawback to 
 this process involves disposal of spent 
 sulfate. Disposal of sulfate as gypsum, 
 with recycling of ammonia within the pro- 
 cess, generates large amounts of waste. 
 An alternate approach involves the puri- 
 fication of ammonium sulfate for sale as 
 fertilizer. Less information has been 
 published on this process than with the 
 Deepsea Ventures, INCO, and Kennecott 
 processes. 
 
 In the Kennecott (Cuprion) process, wet 
 ore is ground, and then slurried in a 
 mixture of seawater and recycled process 
 liquor which contains dissolved copper 
 and ammoniacal ammonium carbonate. The 
 slurry passes through a series of reac- 
 tion vessels into which carbon monoxide 
 is introduced. Cuprous ions are produced 
 which subsequently catalyze the reduction 
 of the manganese-iron oxide matrix (1) . 
 Value metals dissolve and are separated 
 from the reduced residues by countercur- 
 rent washing. Ammonia and carbon dioxide 
 are recovered and recycled by steam 
 stripping residues. Electrowon copper 
 and nickel are produced after having been 
 extracted from the leach liquor using a 
 mixture of LIX 64N 1 * in kerosine. Cobalt 
 is recovered from the remaining solution 
 (raffinite) by precipitation with H2S and 
 subsequent reduction. Electrowinning is 
 employed to recover nickel and copper as 
 high-grade cathodes. 
 
 Several favorable factors characterize 
 this process: nearly all process steps 
 are carried out at ambient temperature 
 and pressure; energy consumption is rela- 
 tively low; most reagents are relatively 
 inexpensive or recyclable; and there is 
 only limited use of corrosive and highly 
 toxic reagents. Apparently, these char- 
 acteristics were successfully demon- 
 strated in a 350-kg/d pilot plant, which 
 was operated for 43 days at Kennecott' s 
 Ledgemont Laboratory ( 1_) . 
 
 ^Reference to specific products does 
 not imply endorsement by the Bureau of 
 Mines. 
 
 While both the Cuprion and high- 
 temperature sulfuric acid leach processes 
 previously described are designed to 
 recover primarily copper , nickel , and 
 cobalt, it is possible that other metals 
 such as molybdenum, would also be recov- 
 ered. In this case, additional metals 
 separation and purification steps would 
 be required, but the process would not be 
 greatly changed. Also, manganese could 
 be recovered by a combination of physical 
 and chemical steps. However, if manga- 
 nese were to be recovered, materials 
 handling and process design would be sig- 
 nificantly altered and energy require- 
 ments would increase considerably. 
 
 OPERATIONAL INTEGRATION OF A PROPOSED 
 RECOVERY SYSTEM 
 
 Because description and costing of a 
 nodule mine-transport-benef iciation sys- 
 tem is very complex, only one system 
 is described and applied to the three 
 subareas, All, Bill, and CI (hereafter 
 called ventures 1, 2, and 3). The system 
 is modified for each subarea to reflect 
 differences in transport distances, water 
 depths, and nodule abundances. However, 
 except to lower the projected mining rate 
 for venture 2 which has comparatively low 
 nodule abundance, no attempt has been 
 made to optimize the many factors bearing 
 on economic viability. Mining consortia 
 and regulatory agencies involved would 
 determine exact areas to be mined, their 
 sizes, locations of facilities, methods 
 employed, and production rates. 
 
 The proposed system is, in part, hypo- 
 thetical because there has been no com- 
 mercial production experience, yet the 
 descriptions and costs are drawn from 
 many knowledgeable sources, both pub- 
 lished and unpublished. Because both 
 methods were successfully tested, the 
 system plan includes hydraulic mining- 
 lifting and Cuprion processing. Other 
 benef iciation methods might be as feasi- 
 ble, but little information is avail- 
 able concerning process details and test 
 results. Slurry transfer and transport 
 of nodule ore is considered most likely, 
 
 
16 
 
 because nodules are amenable to the meth- 
 od, and much slurry handling experience 
 exists in other areas of the minerals 
 industry. 
 
 Mining is scheduled on a 300-d/yr basis 
 with an estimated annual production of 
 3.0 million dry t for ventures 1 and 
 3, and 2.4 million dry t for venture 2. 
 Two ships recovering 5,000 dry t/d each 
 (4,000 t for venture 2) would sweep the 
 minesite in predetermined paths. Hy- 
 draulic collectors, towed at an average 
 velocity of 1.0 m/s (2 kn) , would dis- 
 lodge, sort, and channel nodules to a 
 large-diameter pipe, which would connect 
 the collector to the ship (fig. 11). 
 Submersible hydraulic pumps would main- 
 tain an upward flow of water, nodules, 
 and nodule fragments. Check-dump valves 
 would protect the pumps , and prevent 
 clogging in case of power failure. 
 
 Aboard the mine ship, nodules would be 
 screened, conveyed to storage holds, and 
 dewatered by decantation. The ore would 
 not be upgraded because chemical and 
 physical characteristics of nodules do 
 not lend themselves to traditional con- 
 centration methods. Every few days, 
 nodule ore would be reslurried and pumped 
 through a flexible pipeline to large- 
 capacity bulk transports where it would 
 be again dewatered and then transported 
 to an unloading terminal on the west 
 coast of the United States. 
 
 At the unloading facility, ore would be 
 reslurried and pumped to nodule storage 
 ponds on shore. From there the slurry 
 would be transferred inland, by slurry 
 pipeline, to storage ponds at the pro- 
 cessing plant. 
 
 The processing plant would operate 
 24 h/d, 330 d/yr at 100 pet capacity. 
 Nickel and copper would be recovered as 
 high-purity cathodes, and cobalt would be 
 chemically precipitated, purified, and 
 recovered as metallic or oxide powder. 
 An add-on option is included to recover 
 manganese by treating about one-half the 
 Cuprion tailing and upgrading it to a 
 f erromanganese product. 
 
 Tailings from both Cuprion and ferro- 
 manganese plants would be treated to ad- 
 just pH and then pumped to tailings ponds 
 of conventional design. Slag from the 
 f erromanganese plant would be stored in 
 an adjacent area. 
 
 MINING 
 
 Nodule mining in each deep ocean site 
 would be conducted 300 d/yr at a rate 
 of 8,000 dry t/d (11,430 t/d as mined, 
 wet) for venture 2 and 10,000 dry t/d 
 (14,300 t/d as mined, wet) for the other 
 two ventures. Operations would be con- 
 ducted around the clock, but actual pro- 
 duction time is estimated at 20 h/d. 
 Hourly rates would therefore be 400 and 
 500 dry t, respectively. Major equipment 
 modifications, ship repairs, and drydock 
 would likely take place during July 
 through August, when from three to four 
 major storms normally occur. A high- 
 speed boat, operating from a major port, 
 would transport personnel and supplies 
 to the minesite. Ship-to-ship transfer 
 would be by helicopter. 
 
 Prior to actual mining, extensive char- 
 acterization of a portion of the previ- 
 ously explored minesite would be com- 
 pleted. A large-scale bathymetric map 
 would be constructed; locations of bottom 
 obstructions, including cliffs, faults, 
 and rock outcrops would be clearly 
 marked. Sediment bearing strengths and 
 other factors of local marine environment 
 would be analyzed in detail. Based on 
 this additional resource information, a 
 mining plan would be drawn up at least a 
 year in advance of each year of mining. 
 The survey program would continue 
 throughout the life of the operation, re- 
 quiring the use of a survey vessel most 
 of the time. 
 
 The mining system would be composed of 
 two mine ships, each capable of conduct- 
 ing operations independent of the other. 
 Each ship would be in the 100,000-dwt 
 class; approximately 250 m long, with a 
 45-m beam and a draft of about 12.2 m. 
 About 30,000 shaft hp would be required 
 for propulsion, mining, ore transfer, and 
 
17 
 
 NODULE TRANSPORT 
 
 MINE SHIP 
 
 Screening 
 and separating 
 equipment 
 
 Support platform 
 and derrick 
 
 Bow 
 thrusters 
 
 KEY 
 
 A Pipe joint 
 
 B Lift pipe (steel alloy) 
 
 C Vortex suppressor(s) 
 
 D Check-dump valve 
 
 E Hose-pipe connector 
 
 F Power and communications cable 
 
 G Flexible hose 
 
 COLLECTOR 
 
 FIGURE 11. - Hydraulic deep ocean mining system. Modified from Flipse (15-16) and Grote (24). 
 
18 
 
 crew accommodations (_5_) . The large ship 
 size is in part dictated by the need to 
 have several days storage capacity, to 
 significantly reduce the number of 
 transports. 
 
 A ship of conventional hull form, simi- 
 lar to an ore carrier, would be used but 
 would require many changes and additions 
 to be able to serve as a mine ship. The 
 most conspicuous addition, the pipe han- 
 dling system, would consist of a derrick, 
 support platform, pipe racks, and combi- 
 nation crane-elevator used to move pipe 
 from storage. The derrick and platform 
 would be built over a rectangular hole 
 (moon pool) cut through the hull of the 
 ship. The moon pool would be amidships 
 where there is the least pitch and roll. 
 Assuming pipe support at the main 
 strength deck, a 20- by 20-m moon pool 
 should be sufficient to keep the pipe 
 from striking the walls during a 30° 
 roll ( 17 ) , the design maximum. The sup- 
 port platform-work floor, capable of 
 holding an estimated 5,000 t, would be 
 mounted on a two-axle gimbal, which al- 
 lows the trailing pipestring to remain 
 near vertical as the ship pitches and 
 rolls. A hydraulic support system would 
 compensate for heave. 
 
 Other onboard equipment would consist 
 of separator and settling tanks, screens, 
 and conveyors to separate nodules from 
 sediments and other waste. Slurry pumps 
 and permanent piping would be installed 
 to route nodules to storage and sediments 
 overboard; possibly through a flexible 
 pipe extending to a maximum depth of 
 200 m (16) . Special care would be taken 
 to retain nodule "fines," which carry 
 most metal values. Additional tanks and 
 pumps would be used to reslurry the ore 
 and transfer it to bulk transport ves- 
 sels. Total mine ship storage would be 
 70,000 wet t (49,000 dry t) , equivalent 
 to the capacity of the ore transports 
 plus 10 pet margin. 
 
 To tow the collector at required low 
 velocities and to accurately maneuver, 
 the mine ship would have to be fitted 
 with a sophisticated computer-controlled 
 propulsion system. This would include 
 
 bow and stern thrusters as well as a 
 sonar locator system. The locator system 
 would consist of hull-mounted transducers 
 that generate sound pulses. The pulses 
 would be picked up and returned by a set 
 of transponders positioned on the sea- 
 floor. The returned signals would be 
 analyzed by a computer, which would 
 steer the ship within a few feet of 
 the prescribed course ( 50 ) and around 
 obstacles. 
 
 A crew (mining and operational) of 
 about 72 (17) would require living and 
 recreational facilities. Because of ex- 
 tended tours of duty, these facilities 
 might include amenities such as individ- 
 ual quarters, a gymnasium, theater, and 
 gameroom. Two crews for each ship would 
 be required to permit a 30-day-on, 30- 
 day-off work cycle typical of the off- 
 shore oil industry. 
 
 Most of the pipeline would be similar 
 in composition to oil-drill pipe. Inside 
 diameter would be constant at about 
 40 cm, while wall thickness would vary 
 from 1.5 to 8.5 cm. Pipe section lengths 
 from 12 to 13 m are anticipated. Sec- 
 tions would be joined by clamp or thread- 
 ed (tool) joints. An electrical cable 
 would be attached to the pipe to supply 
 power to the submersible pumps and to the 
 nodule collector. Depending on opera- 
 tional experience, fairings or other 
 types of devices might be attached to 
 reduce drag and minimize vibration of the 
 string (24) . 
 
 Near the lower end of the pipestring, a 
 strong, flexible hose would connect the 
 collector and steel pipe. This would 
 allow for undulations in topography. 
 Total length of the pipe string would be 
 about 15 pet greater than the depth of 
 the area being mined. 
 
 Residual sediment and biogenic debris, 
 water, and nodules would be moved up the 
 pipeline using a multistage hydraulic 
 pump system. Three pumps would be 
 mounted along the string: one within a 
 few hundred feet of the surface and the 
 other two about one-third and two-thirds 
 of the water depth. An "off-line" design 
 
19 
 
 would be preferable because it would uti- 
 lize a motor-pump design that eliminates 
 the need for solids to pass through the 
 impellers. Consequently, there would be 
 less nodule-caused abrasion, pump wear, 
 or chance of damage in case of power 
 failure (17, 44). 
 
 until the proper pipe string length had 
 been achieved. Assuming 15 min per sec- 
 tion, 4 to 5 days would be required to 
 complete the job. The final pipe section 
 would be connected to the separator and 
 ore handling equipment , and mining would 
 proceed as planned. 
 
 The last major component of the mining 
 system would be a skid-mounted collector 
 having the simplest design possible until 
 mining experience dictates otherwise. 
 Front-mounted tines, cutter bar, or simi- 
 lar devices would dislodge nodules en- 
 countered by the collector and reject 
 oversize material. Electric or hydraulic 
 motor-powered conveyors would move ad- 
 mitted nodules , nodule fragments , and 
 sediment through a series of screens to 
 the hose or dredge pipe opening where 
 hydraulic flow would move them up the 
 pipeline. During the screening process 
 most of the sediment would be removed. 
 
 Production demands would require a 
 large collector, as much as 20 m in 
 width, depending on average deposit abun- 
 dance. The device would be strongly 
 built to withstand inevitable collisions 
 with undetected obstacles, and gross 
 weights would probably range from 10 to 
 30 t. 
 
 Actual mining would begin by preparing 
 the collector and attaching it to the 
 flexible hose. Depending on size, the 
 unit would be either lowered over the 
 side and keelhauled beneath the moon pool 
 or lowered directly through it. Steel 
 pipe with attached fairings and power 
 cable would be added section by section 
 
 The collector would be towed at a 
 velocity of approximately 1 m/s (2 kn) , 
 resulting in a pipeline trailing angle of 
 about 7° from vertical ( 15 ) . The veloc- 
 ity could not be increased appreciably 
 because a 50-pct increase in speed nearly 
 doubles the power requirements and flat- 
 tens the trailing angle to approximately 
 14° or more. The large trailing angle 
 increases pumping requirements and pipe 
 abrasion. According to Flipse ( 15) , a 
 flow velocity of about 4.9 m/s is suffi- 
 cient to lift nodules through a pipe 7° 
 from vertical. A solids to fluid ratio 
 of about 1:7 (14 vol pet) can be expected 
 ( 17) . Shaw ( 41 ) estimates that service 
 life of a pipeline and collector would 
 be about 12 and 6 months, respectively. 
 Others expect twice this life ( 17 ) . 
 
 Physical characteristics affecting min- 
 ability of the potential minesites are 
 summarized in table 4. Grade in each 
 subarea is high and the resources appear 
 sufficient to support mining at the 
 specified rates for 20 yr or more. Vari- 
 able water depths require different pipe 
 string lengths but no significant changes 
 in shipboard equipment design. Signifi- 
 cant differences in collector sizes , how- 
 ever, are dictated by the wide range 
 of nodule abundances . In fact , the low 
 nodule abundance of venture 2 subarea 
 
 TABLE 4. - Deposit characteristics affecting minability, 
 ventures 1, 2, and 3 
 
 
 
 1— All 
 
 2— Bill 
 
 3--CI 
 
 Depth 
 
 
 5,200 
 6,200 
 
 1.30 
 1.00 
 0.21 
 0.05 
 27.8 
 67.0 
 
 4,800 
 3,700 
 
 1.45 
 1.24 
 0.25 
 0.07 
 27.2 
 66.9 
 
 4,600 
 
 Average metal content, 
 Ni 
 
 wt pet (dry basis): 
 
 8,200 
 1.33 
 
 Cu 
 
 1.04 
 
 Co 
 
 0.26 
 
 Mo 
 
 0.07 
 
 Mn 
 
 26.8 
 
 Recoverable resource.. 
 
 
 148.8 
 
20 
 
 would require a very large dredge to 
 maintain a reasonable, yet smaller pro- 
 duction level than ventures 1 and 3. 
 Increased size and weight of the larger 
 collector would require a stronger and, 
 very likely, heavier pipe resulting in 
 increased loads on the gimballed support 
 platform. Mine ship fuel consumption 
 would increase, but pumping requirements 
 would not, because the mining rate would 
 not increase. Design of collectors for 
 each minesite would vary in some aspects, 
 depending on sediment type and bearing 
 strengths, and minesite topography. How- 
 ever, no significant cost differences are 
 anticipated based on design. 
 
 Table 5 summarizes mining parameters 
 for the three ventures. Assuming 20-h 
 days, annual production at about 95 pet 
 capacity would be 3.0 million dry t for 
 ventures 1 and 3, and 2.4 million dry t 
 for venture 2. 
 
 TABLE 5. - Mining parameters for 
 ventures 1, 2, and 3 
 
 Dredge width m. . 
 
 Nodules traversed 1 . .dry t/h.. 
 
 Dredge efficiency pet.. 
 
 Nodules rec o v erd. . . .dry t/h. . 
 
 1 
 
 14 
 312 
 
 85 
 265 
 
 19 
 253 
 
 80 
 203 
 
 10 
 295 
 
 90 
 266 
 
 1 Based on collector velocity of 1 m/s. 
 
 TRANSPORTATION 
 
 Relatively large 70,000-dwt bulk ore 
 carriers or similar vessels are best 
 suited to transport nodule ore because an 
 economy of scale exists, and because they 
 are probably the largest ships that can 
 navigate most west coast port waters 
 (^0. 5 A modified hull design, intermedi- 
 ate between conventional and shallow 
 draft types, could carry the relatively 
 
 ^Domestic ocean mining legislation 
 (Public Law 96-283, Deep Seabed Hard Min- 
 eral Resources Act) requires processing 
 in the United States. Alternate sites 
 would be on the island of Hawaii and 
 along the gulf coast. 
 
 dense ore, while maintaining a reasonably 
 shallow draft. Extra steel would be used 
 to compartmentalize holds and give added 
 strength ( 4_) . 
 
 Nonstructural modifications required 
 for nodule transport vessels include 
 piping; pumps and conveyors to receive, 
 distribute, decant, and dewater nodule 
 slurry; a boom to pick up and lift slurry 
 and fuel lines aboard; and dedicated 
 stowage tanks and piping for mine-ship 
 fuel. 
 
 Table 6 lists dimensions and other 
 characteristics of the proposed nodule 
 transports. For economy, the vessels are 
 assumed to be foreign built (European) 
 and diesel powered. A relatively small 
 crew of 32 would be adequate, because the 
 ships would not be equipped to reslurry 
 and unload their cargo. Capital costs 
 would be less for one set of slurrying 
 equipment at dockside, as opposed to mul- 
 tiple installations on transports. Also, 
 onshore maintenance would be easier and 
 cheaper. Shipboard slurrying equipment 
 could be added later if, for instance, 
 ocean dumping of tailings were to be 
 initiated. At 90 pet of the nominal 
 capacity of 70,000 long tons, each vessel 
 would carry 64,000 t of dewatered slurry 
 (4^) containing the equivalent of 44,800 t 
 of dry nodule material. 
 
 TABLE 6. - Characteristics of proposed 
 70,000-dwt nodule transports (4_) 
 
 Dimensions, m: 
 
 Length 226.0 
 
 Beam 36.9 
 
 Depth 18.6 
 
 Draft m.. 12.5 
 
 Horsepower 18 ,700 
 
 Speed, kn: 
 
 Laden 14.5 
 
 Unladen (40 pet ballast) 16.7 
 
 Fuel consumption, bbl/d: 
 
 At sea 490 
 
 In port 49 
 
 Lubricating oil bbl/d.. 2.8 
 
21 
 
 Transport operations between the mine- 
 site and west coast would coincide with 
 the 300-d mine ship schedule. A typi- 
 cal transport cycle would consist of the 
 following four phases: 
 
 • Ship-to-ship transfer of slurry, 
 fuel, and supplies. 
 
 • Transportation of slurry to an un- 
 loading facility. 
 
 • Unloading slurry, loading fuel and 
 supplies. 
 
 • Returning to mines ite under ballast. 
 
 Slurry transfer would be initiated by 
 passing a towline and large-diameter, 
 flexible pipe to the carrier. Once at- 
 tached, the lines would be played out 
 approximately 200 m (15) . The mine ship 
 would then tow the transport during pump- 
 ing operations. This would insure a 
 constant, safe distance and prevent ex- 
 cessive strain on the slurry line. 
 
 Normally ship-to-ship slurry pumping 
 would be conducted simultaneously with 
 transfer of supplies and fuel. Most sup- 
 plies would be transferred by helicopter, 
 but heavy equipment would require use of 
 a mine-ship crane. Fuel would be pumped 
 through a flexible line stored on the 
 mine ship. 
 
 On the mine ship, high-pressure water 
 jets would be sequentially directed into 
 holds containing dewatered nodule ore. 
 Centrifugal pumps would feed the result- 
 ing slurry through piping to a manifold 
 on the main deck level; the slurry would 
 then be routed to the main transfer line. 
 The pumped slurry would consist of a max- 
 imum of 40 pet solids and have a specific 
 gravity of 1.6 or less (_5, 8). Rated 
 capacity of individual pumps would be 
 500 t of solids per hour. Complete 
 transfer would probably take 30 to 32 h, 
 including 4 h for passing lines, connect- 
 ing, playing out, and disconnecting (4). 
 
 Based on an average speed of 15.6 kn, 
 steaming time to and from port would take 
 an estimated 14.2, 11.5, and 9.8 days, 
 
 respectively, for venture 1, 2, and 3 
 
 transports. Minor variations would be 
 
 expected because of weather and sea 
 conditions. 
 
 Unloading at an onshore slurry termi- 
 nal, with a design pumping capacity 
 greater than that of the mine ship, 
 would require less actual pumping time 
 than ship-to-ship transfer. However, as 
 slurry carriers approach the facility it 
 might be necessary to slow or wait for 
 high tide to traverse access channels. 
 Considering this and other delays in 
 loading supplies and fuel, total in-port 
 time would be 2 to 3 days. 
 
 Table 7 gives a summary of pertinent 
 ore transportation information. The num- 
 ber of vessels required to meet the an- 
 nual production goals of 2.4 and 3.0 mil- 
 lion dry t, would depend on the number of 
 trips each vessel would make per year and 
 the capacity of each ship (44,800 dry t). 
 In turn, the number of annual trips is 
 the quotient of 300 operating days divid- 
 ed by the estimated round trip (cycle) 
 time. Cycle time is simply the sum of 
 loading, unloading, and steaming times. 
 
 TABLE 7. - Summary of transportation 
 data, ventures 1, 2, and 3 
 
 Distance to port 
 
 ^nmi. . 
 Transport cycle 
 
 t ime d . . 
 
 Annual trips per 
 
 vessel 
 
 Vessels required 
 
 1 
 
 2,660 
 
 18 
 
 17 
 4 
 
 2,160 
 
 16 
 
 19 
 3 
 
 1,840 
 
 13 
 
 23 
 3 
 
 ^nmi is equal to 1.85 km. 
 
 SLURRY TERMINAL 
 
 An onshore slurry terminal, similar to 
 that described by Dames and Moore (8) , is 
 illustrated in figure 12. The facility, 
 as designed, would occupy about the 
 smallest practical land surface area and 
 would receive, store, and pump nodule 
 slurry to the process plant; it would not 
 receive or load tailings for disposal at 
 sea. A significantly larger installa- 
 tion would be required for that purpose, 
 
22 
 
 Nodule transport 
 
 Slurry line to 
 process plant 
 
 50 
 
 _i_ 
 
 -L 
 
 100 
 
 FIGURE 12. 
 
 Moore (8). 
 
 Scale, m 
 
 Plan view of slurry receiving terminal and pumping station. Modified from Dames & 
 
 because of the large volume of waste pro- 
 duced by processing. Major components of 
 the unloading facility would include a 
 dock; mooring dolphins; 20-ton-capacity 
 cranes to service transport vessel stor- 
 age holds; a portable slurry pump for 
 each hold; an access trestle; water and 
 slurry piping, water tanks, raw nodule 
 storage ponds; a pump building; and stor- 
 age, shop, and office buildings. 
 
 Transport vessels from ventures 1 and 3 
 would arrive once every 4 to 4.5 days; 
 vessels from venture 2 would arrive about 
 once every 5 days. If loaded drafts were 
 near channel depth limits, vessels would 
 wait, then proceed to the terminal at 
 high tide. Upon docking, hatch covers 
 would be opened and, using dockside 
 cranes, the portable slurry units would 
 be suspended in each hold. High-pressure 
 
23 
 
 waterlines, fed by onsite storage tanks 
 and pumps, would be attached to slurrying 
 nozzles. Outlets on each unit would be 
 connected to a collector system leading 
 to the slurry pump building and storage 
 ponds. During unloading operations units 
 would be lowered into the dewatered ore 
 as special sinking jets slurried material 
 directly below the units. Side-mounted 
 jets would undercut and slurry surround- 
 ing ore as a hydraulic driving mechanism 
 slowly rotated the unit. Most material 
 would be routed to the storage ponds. 
 However, a portion would probably be 
 sent directly to the pump building, and 
 then through a pipeline to the process- 
 ing plant. Slurry storage capacity on 
 the 10-ha site would be approximately 
 110,000 m 3 , sufficient for two to three 
 transport loads. Water requirements for 
 reslurrying the ore would be substantial; 
 however, most would be recycled from the 
 process plant. Makeup water would be 
 pumped directly from the harbor with 
 no requirement for purification or other 
 treatment. 
 
 Supplies for the mine ships and indi- 
 vidual transports would be delivered to 
 the dock by truck and lifted aboard by 
 crane. A freshwater line would supply 
 water when required. Diesel bunkering 
 could be accomplished by barge, making 
 fuel storage and pumping facilities un- 
 necessary. Tanks and storage, however, 
 are included in facility costs in the 
 "Capital and Operating Costs" section. 
 
 The processing plant would probably be 
 a significant distance inland because of 
 limited availability of suitable land 
 near developed ports. Two pipes would be 
 laid side by side the entire distance. A 
 larger pipe would carry nodule slurry to 
 the plant, while a smaller one would re- 
 turn decanted water to the terminal. As- 
 suming a maximum distance of 40 km and 
 relatively flat terrain, a bank of cen- 
 trifugal pumps with two booster stations 
 would supply sufficient pumping capacity. 
 Storage ponds at the terminal would allow 
 minor pipeline repairs during the oper- 
 ating year; major replacements could be 
 made in the off-season. The slurry line 
 
 would be sized to transport nodules at 
 essentially the same rate as received: 
 approximately 425 and 340 t/h dry solids 
 for the 3.0 and 2.4 million t/yr opera- 
 tions, respectively. A 25-cm-ID pipe 
 would be required for the former opera- 
 tions and a 20-cm-ID pipe for the latter. 
 Slurry densities would be somewhat lower 
 than for other transport operations, 
 around 30 pet solids, to allow for easy 
 resuspension in the event of pump fail- 
 ure. If desirable, nodule ore could be 
 ground at the terminal; this would reduce 
 flow velocity and pipe diameter require- 
 ments. Operational downtime would be 
 about 10 pet. Land usage would be about 
 1.0 ha for the two pumping stations and 
 58 ha for the pipeline. Power would be 
 purchased from a local supplier. 
 
 CUPRION PROCESSING 
 
 The 3 million dry t processing plant 
 would require approximately 90 ha of 
 land. Requirements for the smaller 2.4 
 million dry t plant would not be much 
 less. Both Cuprion plants would use sig- 
 nificant amounts of water, which is as- 
 sumed to be available from nearby 
 sources. Maximum reuse of water would be 
 practiced in the plant, and generation of 
 electricity in the plant's utilities sec- 
 tion would meet most power requirements. 
 Coal would be the cheapest fuel and 
 source of carbon monoxide reducing gas. 
 A well-developed local infrastructure is 
 assumed to exist nearby to support plant 
 operations, including a pool of skilled 
 labor, and other community services such 
 as schools, hospitals, and fire protec- 
 tion. Provision is made for construction 
 of 8.0 km of paved highway and rail spur 
 line. 
 
 An assumption is made that waste will 
 be stored a significant distance from 
 processing facilities because of continu- 
 ing environmental concern over waste 
 disposal. Costs are based on a plant- 
 to-storage distance of 100 km. Approxi- 
 mately 480 and 600 ha of land would be 
 needed at the disposal site for a 20-yr 
 operation for the smaller and and larger 
 plants, respectively. 
 
24 
 
 During normal operations, slurried ore 
 would be received from the pipeline and 
 be routed to storage ponds to await 
 processing. Ponds, 5 m deep covering 
 12 ha, would be sufficient for 3.0 to 
 3.5 months' storage, a requirement dic- 
 tated by the inability to mine nod- 
 ules all year round. The equivalent of 
 9,090 dry t/d for ventures 1 and 3 or 
 7,270 dry t/d for venture 2 would be pro- 
 cessed 330 d/y. Slurry would be re- 
 claimed from storage and transferred to a 
 surge tank in the ore preparation sec- 
 tion, mixed with recycled ammonia-rich 
 liquor from the reduction and leach-wash 
 sections (fig. 13), and then fed to hy- 
 drocyclones for classification. Under- 
 flow would be fed to ball mills where 
 particles would be reduced in size and 
 sent back to the surge tank. Minus 100- 
 mesh overflow, containing less than 5 pet 
 solids ( 35 ) , would report directly to the 
 reduction section. 
 
 Ninety-eight percent of the manganese 
 oxide matrix would be reduced in a cas- 
 cade series of reaction vessels by the 
 action of carbon monoxide catalyzed by 
 internally generated cuprous ions. 
 
 The net effect would be to reduce man- 
 ganese to the divalent state and produce 
 manganese carbonate; as a result, metal- 
 lic commodities to be recovered would be 
 liberated. The required concentration of 
 cuprous ions would be maintained by con- 
 tinually sparging a carbon monoxide-rich 
 gas into reaction vessels. Synthesis gas 
 generated from gasified coal contains a 
 significant amount of H 2 and acid gases 
 (CO2, H2S) , which would be separated from 
 carbon monoxide prior to its use in 
 reduction (7). 
 
 Dilute slurry would be passed to a clari- 
 fier, whose overflow would be treated 
 with ammonia and carbon dioxide, cooled, 
 and returned to leach reactors. Thick- 
 ened underflow would be combined with 
 second stage wash liquor and oxidized 
 with air to convert cuprous copper to the 
 cupric state to facilitate metal extrac- 
 tion by liquid ion exchange (LIX) . Also, 
 cobalt and iron would be oxidized; iron 
 would precipite as an insoluble hydroxide 
 (8). Offgases would be vented to ammonia 
 recovery. 
 
 Oxidized slurry would be pumped to a 
 countercurrent decantation (CCD) system 
 where metals would be further solubi- 
 lized, and where primary liquid-solid 
 separation and washing would be made. 
 Nickel and copper recovery would be 
 greater than 90 pet (1_) , and cobalt re- 
 covery about 65 pet. 
 
 Manganese-rich tailings and process gas 
 would be sent to ammonia recovery, and 
 pregnant liquor to the LIX section for 
 metal separation. There, nickel and cop- 
 per would be coextracted, then selec- 
 tively stripped (Kennecott researchers 
 determined that coextraction of the two 
 metals greatly simplified the process). 
 Extraction would be carried out at 40° C 
 in a series of three mixer-settler tanks 
 using 40 pet LIX 64N in kerosine. Recov- 
 ery of nickel and copper would be greater 
 than 99.9 pet, but about 5 pet of the 
 ammonia would also be extracted (2^) and, 
 if not removed, would accumulate in the 
 nickel electrolyte. Two wash sections 
 would reduce it to an acceptable concen- 
 tration and the recovered ammonia would 
 be recycled to the plant ammonia recovery 
 section. 
 
 The critical reactions were demon- 
 strated at ambient pressure and 50° C, 
 but a holdup time of about 20 min for 
 each of the five vessels would be re- 
 quired ( 1_) . Autoclaves, maintained at a 
 pressure of about 5 kg/cm 2 and 50° C may 
 be utilized, thereby improving reaction 
 rates and reducing the size of reactor 
 vessels (^35 ) . Exothermic heat of reac- 
 tion would be removed in heat exchangers 
 and excess gas sent to ammonia recovery. 
 
 A small amount of cobalt would be ex- 
 tracted with nickel and copper and would 
 have to be removed to prevent excess 
 buildup. To accomplish this, hydrogen 
 sulfide would be introduced into a sol- 
 vent purge stream (8). The resulting 
 precipitate would be filtered, washed, 
 and passed to cobalt recovery. 
 
 Nickel would be selectively stripped 
 from the organic liquor by contact with 
 
25 
 
26 
 
 acidic return electrolyte from nickel 
 electrowinning. Composition of the elec- 
 trolyte would be controlled to maintain 
 the required selectivity for nickel; ad- 
 vance electrolyte, reporting to elec- 
 trowinning, would contain approximately 
 75-g/L nickel at a pH of 3.0 and a 
 nickel-copper ratio of 25,000:1. Strip- 
 ping would take place in three stages of 
 mixer-settlers of conventional design. 
 
 Organic feed passing to copper strip- 
 ping would contain copper and nickel in a 
 ratio of about 70:1. Both metals would 
 be stripped, in two stages, using a more 
 acidic return electrolyte from copper 
 electrowinning. Nickel content of the 
 electrolyte does not affect copper elec- 
 trowinning if concentrations are below 
 20 g/L. This would be accomplished by 
 bleeding copper stripping tanks. Bleed 
 solution would be passed through a series 
 of cells, where copper would be electro- 
 won to depletion, and the remaining elec- 
 trolyte passed to vacuum evaporators, 
 where water would be removed and nickel 
 sulfate precipitated. The sulfate would 
 be sent to cobalt recovery and the re- 
 maining, strongly acidic solution re- 
 turned to process, where it would' be uti- 
 lized to redissolve scrap copper (8). 
 
 Nickel would be electrowon from the ad- 
 vance electrolyte in conventional cells. 
 Cathode bags would be used as blanks for 
 starter sheets, and boric acid and sodium 
 sulfate would be added to regulate pH and 
 conductivity. Starter sheets would be 
 cleaned in sulfuric acid prior to use. 
 Nickel scrap would be recovered by dis- 
 solution in ammonia-rich raffinite and 
 routing to stripping (J3) . 
 
 Copper would also be recovered using 
 conventional electrowinning technology. 
 Starter sheets would be deposited on ti- 
 tanium blanks in the stripping section 
 and then installed in commercial cells. 
 Most of the spent electrolyte would be 
 recycled to stripping, and the remainder 
 purged of nickel in the manner described 
 above. Full-sized nickel and copper 
 cathodes are to be the final products. 
 Both commodities would be removed from 
 
 cells , washed , and prepared 
 to market. 
 
 for shipment 
 
 im 
 
 I- 
 
 Apparently, recovery of cobalt from the 
 nickel-copper poor LIX raffinite has not 
 been fully tested at pilot-plant scale. 
 However, several plausible schemes exist. 
 One method, outlined in the Dames and 
 Moore (8) report is described here. Un- 
 extracted nickel, copper, cobalt, and 
 zinc are precipitated with ammonium hy- 
 drosulfide, produced by sparging hydrogen 
 sulfide into ammonia solution. Precipi- 
 tate and solution are separated in a 
 clarifier; overflow reports to ammonia 
 recovery and underflow is sent to steam 
 stripping for removal of ammonia. Sul 
 fide slurry is mixed with purges from 
 electrowinning, and pressure leached with 
 air to preferentially dissolve and remove 
 cobalt and nickel. Copper and zinc sul- 
 fide precipitates are separated, washed, 
 and sold to smelters as concentrates. 
 
 Following pH adjustment, the nickel- 
 cobalt sulfate solution passes to a 
 heated autoclave where hydrogen gas is 
 sparged into the vessel, thereby reducing 
 the nickel. Ammonia is added to neutral- 
 ize the sulfuric acid being formed. The 
 process is completed in a series of cy- 
 cles , with care being taken to prevent 
 overreduction resulting in coprecipita- 
 tion of cobalt. Once adequate density is 
 obtained, the nickel powder is removed, 
 washed, dried, and briquet ted for sale. 
 
 The remaining sulfate solution passes 
 to an evaporator where cobalt and small 
 amounts of nickel and ammonium sulfates 
 are precipitated. Nickel and cobalt 
 salts are redissolved in strong ammonia 
 solution and cobalt is reoxidized with 
 air to the cobaltic state. Cobalt then 
 remains in solution as the stream is 
 acidified; nickel salts are precipitated 
 and recycled to the pH adjustment step. 
 Nickel-free solution is heated and re- 
 duced with hydrogen in an autoclave and 
 enough ammonia is added to neutralize any 
 acid formed. Cobalt metal is removed, 
 washed, dried, and briquetted for sale as 
 cobalt powder. 
 
Sulfate purge from cobalt recovery is 
 combined with additional ammonium sulfate 
 from the LIX section, reacted with slaked 
 lime, and stripped of ammonia by intro- 
 duction of steam. Gypsum formed in this 
 process is combined with other solid and 
 liquid wastes and plant runoff. The 
 material is treated as required and 
 pumped to waste impoundment. Gypsum and 
 other wastes may be combined with part 
 or all of the manganese tailing depending 
 on whether manganese is recovered for 
 sale. 
 
 Manganese carbonate tailings from the 
 CCD wash report to ammonia recovery where 
 they are heated and stripped of ammonia 
 and carbon dioxide by countercurrent con- 
 tact with steam. Gases are combined with 
 vapors from other ammonia stripping oper- 
 ations and are cooled and condensed. 
 Scrubbed gases from process vents are 
 also added and the solution recycled to 
 CCD wash. Carbon dioxide makeup is ob- 
 tained from boiler flues and ammonia-free 
 gases from process vents are sent to the 
 main stack. 
 
 Concentrated ammonia solution, needed 
 for reduction of the raw nodule slurry, 
 is obtained by partially stripping raf- 
 finite from cobalt recovery; the result- 
 ing ammonia-rich vapors are combined with 
 vapors from LIX, reduction, oxidation, 
 and lime boil steps as well as makeup am- 
 monia. The gas is condensed and recycled 
 to nodule reduction. 
 
 Table 8 lists material, water, and pow- 
 er requirements of a 3 million dry t/yr 
 
 27 
 
 Cuprion plant. The table also shows 
 wastes produced, but it does not consider 
 additional requirements for ferroman- 
 ganese production. Quantities for a 
 2.4 million t/yr operation would be ap- 
 proximately 80 pet of these values. 
 
 MANGANESE RECOVERY 6 
 
 A schematic description of an optional 
 onsite facility to further treat part 
 of the manganese carbonate residue 
 (4,250 t/d) is presented in figure 14. 
 Not all tailing is processed, because of 
 presumed market limitations. Plant de- 
 sign, capacity, and fixed capital costs 
 for all three ventures are assumed iden- 
 tical. Carbonate tailing from ammonia 
 recovery would be pumped to the benefici- 
 ation section where it would be washed 
 and centrifuged. Thickened pulp would be 
 mixed with fresh water, soda ash, caustic 
 soda, and sodium silicate prior to flota- 
 tion with saponified fatty acids. As 
 much as 60 pet of the manganese carbonate 
 could be recovered in the froth as a con- 
 centrate assaying 35 to 40 pet manganese. 
 After thickening to about 50 pet solids, 
 the material would be dried and calcined 
 in a rotary kiln to make synthetic man- 
 ganese oxide assaying between 55 and 
 60 pet manganese. 
 
 When cooled, calcine would be conveyed 
 to a surge pile or directly to one of 
 
 °G. D. Gale, metallurgist, Western Field 
 Operations Center, provided design and 
 cost information for recovery of 
 f erromanganese. 
 
 TABLE 8. - Cuprion ammonia leach plant, major inputs and wastes^ 
 
 690 
 8.5 
 434 
 
 Coal thousand t . . 
 
 .Water million m 3 . . 
 
 Power 2 million kW*h. . 
 
 Materials and 
 
 supplies 3 thou sand t.. 270 
 
 ^Quantities are adjusted from reference 8. 
 2 Gross requirements, mostly generated internally. 
 3 All supplies including liquids and gases. 
 
 Tailings million t . . 
 
 Liquids million m 3 . . 
 
 Gases thousand m 3 /min . . 
 
 Manufacturing thousand t . . 
 
 3.3 
 
 4.5 
 
 10.3 
 
 125 
 
28 
 
 Cuprion plant tailing 
 Sump and pump 
 Centrifuge 
 
 Pulp 
 
 Reagents 
 
 Agitator 
 
 Solution 
 to waste 
 
 Water 
 
 Reagents 
 
 Flotation Tailing to waste ^ 
 
 I 
 
 ice 
 
 i 
 
 Mn concentrate 
 
 Thickener 
 
 Kiln 
 
 Overflow 
 
 •Dust collector 
 
 Exhaust J 
 
 I Sludge 
 
 Stack to waste 
 
 Synthetic Mn oxide 
 
 Cooler 
 
 Conveyor Fluxes Reductant 
 
 *^^ ^^~^^». T .*<^-— - — lron ore 
 
 Stockpile Electric furnace 
 
 Gases Slag Ferromanganese 
 Dust collector 
 
 Exhaust 
 
 I 
 
 Sludge 
 
 Stack 
 
 FIGURE 14. - Generalized flowsheet of a pro= 
 posed ferromanganese plant. 
 
 three 25-MW, submerged resistance fur- 
 naces. The furnaces would be charged 
 with calcine as well as limestone, sil- 
 ica flux, and iron ore; coke would be 
 added as a reductant. Daily materials 
 consumption at full capacity would be 
 about 1,000 t manganese oxide calcine, 
 320 t limestone, 90 t silica flux, 90 t 
 iron ore, and 320 t coke. Slag would be 
 skimmed, granulated, and combined with 
 other wastes for disposal. Molten ferro- 
 manganese at approximately 1,400° C would 
 be poured in molds, cooled, and prepared 
 for shipment. 
 
 Liquid wastes from the washing and con- 
 centration steps would be combined with 
 tailing, treated to adjust pH, and pumped 
 to tailing disposal. Dust and sludge 
 would be recycled to the maximum extent 
 possible, and after suitable treatment, 
 purge streams would be disposed of with 
 other manufacturing wastes. 
 
 Assuming the existence of an adequate 
 market , the ferromanganese plant would 
 operate 330 d/y, processing about 1.4 
 million t of tailing and producing ap- 
 proximately 210,000 t of ferromanganese 
 containing 78 pet manganese. Facilities 
 would require approximately 30 ha of 
 land. Power would be purchased. 
 
 WASTE DISPOSAL 
 
 Tailings from the Cuprion plant and 
 ferromanganese operation, would be pumped 
 to conventional tailings impoundments 
 which would be as much as 100 km from the 
 process plant. Manufacturing wastes, 
 such as lime boil and stack gas scrub- 
 ber sludge, combustion ash, and sludge 
 derived from water treatment operations 
 would be treated by well-established 
 techniques and combined with tailings for 
 disposal. 
 
 Tailing impoundments probably would be 
 totally enclosed and lined with clay 
 or other impermeable material. Granu- 
 lated slag could be a secondary source of 
 bank material if a ferromanganese plant 
 were in operation. As active ponds fill, 
 new ones would be constructed alongside. 
 In accordance with county, State, and 
 Federal regulations, inactive ponds would 
 be covered with topsoil or treated in 
 various ways to stabilize them. A de- 
 canting system would remove and recycle 
 water to the process plant. 
 
 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS 
 
 DISCUSSION 
 
 Capital and operating costs are based 
 on equipment, capacities, and operating 
 parameters discussed in the previous 
 
 section of this report. Costs were ob- 
 tained from many sources, some unpub- 
 lished. Those sources most relied upon 
 include Flipse (17), Brown ( _7_) , and A. D. 
 Little (6), mining and benef iciation 
 
29 
 
 costs; Andrews (4-5 ) , transportation and 
 ship costs; Shaw (41) and Tinsley (45) , 
 general costs. Gale (23) provided ferro- 
 manganese plant costs. All figures are 
 in January 1981 dollars. Indexing data 
 were supplied by Flipse (17) and a Bureau 
 of Mines cost index computer program. 
 
 CAPITAL COSTS 
 
 Tables 9, 10, and 11 contain capital 
 cost information on mining, transporta- 
 tion, and processing for each of the 
 three potential mining ventures. 
 
 TABLE 9. - Mine capital costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3, million 1981 dollars 
 
 1 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 2 — 2.4 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 3—3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 Exploration (6 yr) , 
 
 Research and development... 
 2 mine ships 
 
 pipelines (1 spare) 
 
 collectors 
 
 pumping systems 
 
 sets of onboard equipment, 
 Total fixed capital. . . 
 
 Startup costs * 
 
 Working capital (1.5 yr) 2 .. 
 Total mine investment. 
 
 $19.8 
 69.3 
 
 193.8 
 
 55.1 
 
 7.3 
 
 33.0 
 
 76.2 
 
 $19.8 
 69.3 
 
 198.0 
 66.1 
 10.1 
 30.6 
 74.8 
 
 $19.8 
 69.3 
 
 189.5 
 
 50.1 
 
 6.6 
 
 26.0 
 
 76.2 
 
 454.5 
 21.2 
 63.0 
 
 468.7 
 21.2 
 70.0 
 
 437.5 
 21.2 
 62.7 
 
 538.7 
 
 559.9 
 
 521.4 
 
 Startup capital covers extraordinary costs associated with nodule collector test- 
 ing and debugging. 
 
 2 Based on operating costs about 20 pet greater than 
 ating costs result from lower startup capacity. Dur 
 2.25 million t would be mined by ventures 1 and 3, 
 venture 2. 
 
 normal. The higher unit oper- 
 ing the 1st 1.5 yr an estimated 
 1.8 million t would be mined by 
 
 TABLE 10. - Transportation capital costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3, 
 million 1981 dollars 
 
 1 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 2 — 2.4 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 3 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 Transport vessels * 
 
 Slurry terminal 
 
 Slurry pipeline 
 
 High-speed supply boat 
 
 Total fixed capital 
 
 Working capital (1.5 yr) 2 
 
 Total transportation investment. 
 
 $256.1 
 
 36.0 
 
 18.2 
 
 1.4 
 
 $192.1 
 
 29.5 
 
 16.0 
 
 1.4 
 
 311.7 
 38.3 
 
 238.0 
 28.7 
 
 350.0 
 
 266.7 
 
 $192.1 
 36.0 
 18.2 
 
 1.4 
 
 247.7 
 30.5 
 
 278.2 
 
 *4 transports for venture 1, 3 transports for ventures 2 and 3. 
 
 2 Based on operating costs about 20 pet greater than estimated unit costs during 
 full production. The higher costs result from lower startup capacity. During the 
 1st 1.5 yr approximately 2.25 million t would be transported by ventures 1 and 3, 
 about 1.8 million t would be transported by venture 2. 
 
30 
 
 TABLE 11. - Cuprion and f erromanganese plant capital costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3, 
 million 1981 dollars 
 
 
 1 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 2 — 2.4 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 3 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 CUPRION PLANT 
 
 $72.7 
 
 387.0 
 
 166.2 
 
 26.4 
 
 18.4 
 
 2.4 
 
 5.1 
 
 $72.7 
 
 331.0 
 
 142.2 
 
 22.6 
 
 15.1 
 
 2.2 
 
 5.1 
 
 $72.7 
 
 
 387.0 
 
 
 166.2 
 
 
 26.4 
 
 
 18.4 
 2.4 
 
 
 5.1 
 
 
 678.2 
 78.8 
 
 590.9 
 65.7 
 
 678.2 
 
 
 78.8 
 
 
 757.0 
 
 656.6 
 
 757.0 
 
 FERROMANGANESE PLANT 
 
 74.8 
 18.0 
 
 74.8 
 18.0 
 
 74.8 
 18.0 
 
 
 92.8 
 36.5 
 
 92.8 
 35.2 
 
 92.8 
 
 
 36.5 
 
 Total f erromanganese investment. 
 
 129.3 
 
 128.0 
 
 129.3 
 
 
 886.3 
 
 784.6 
 
 886.3 
 
 
 
 ^ased on operating costs averaging 
 During the 1.25-yr startup period, ventu 
 million t of nodules, venture 2 would 
 to f erromanganese would be about 850,000 
 ture 2. 
 
 about 1/3 more than full production costs. 
 
 res 1 and 3 would process an estimated 1.63 
 
 handle 1.30 million t. Tailing processed 
 
 t for ventures 1 and 3, 650,000 t for ven- 
 
 Included in mine capital are monies for 
 6 yr of prospecting and detailed mine ex- 
 ploration. Once mining commences, this 
 expense would be treated as an operating 
 cost. Research and development capital 
 of $142 million is split almost evenly 
 between mine and processing ( 17) . Work- 
 ing capital is based on 1.5 yr operating 
 expenses for mine and transportation, and 
 1.25 yr for processing. Additional capi- 
 tal is allowed for mine startup because 
 of the extraordinary cost of testing and 
 debugging the collector. Mining ships 
 are assumed to be new and constructed in 
 U.S. shipyards. Dredges, pipelines, and 
 onboard slurry handling equipment are 
 also assumed to be built in the United 
 States. Transportation capital includes 
 purchase of European-built transport ves- 
 sels, construction of a slurry terminal 
 and pipeline to the plant, and initial 
 expenses of a high-speed supply boat. 
 
 Capital for the Cuprion and ferroman- 
 ganese plants does not include expenses 
 
 for infrastructure, such as a townsite, 
 but does include money for a rail spur 
 line and road to the property; a 100-km 
 slurry line to waste disposal; all land 
 purchases; and installation of turbines 
 for internal generation of power suffi- 
 cient for most Cuprion process require- 
 ment needs. Power for the f erromanganese 
 plant would be purchased. 
 
 The most significant differences in 
 capital requirements among ventures 1, 2, 
 and 3 involving raining and transportation 
 are increased costs associated with the 
 larger collector for venture 2 and the 
 purchase of an additional transport for 
 venture 1. However, the largest single 
 factor bearing on capital costs is Cupri- 
 on processing capacity difference between 
 venture 2 and the other two operations. 
 Total capital requirement is estimated 
 to be about $100 million less for 
 venture 2. 
 
31 
 
 OPERATING COSTS 
 
 Tables 12, 13, and 14 contain estimates 
 of operating costs for mining, transport- 
 ing, and processing nodule ore. Mainte- 
 nance and repair and labor costs are 
 by far the largest expenses, account- 
 ing for 64 pet of total operating ex- 
 penses. Operation of the terminal-to- 
 plant pipeline, fuel, and fixed vessel 
 
 expenses compose the bulk of transporta- 
 tion costs. 
 
 The bulk of Cuprion processing costs 
 are attributable to miscellaneous capital 
 charges, fuel (coal), and utilities and 
 labor. Electrical power is by far the 
 largest single cost item for operation of 
 the ferromanganese plant. 
 
 TABLE 12. - Mine operating costs, 1 ventures 1, 2, and 3, million 1981 dollars 
 
 
 1 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 2 — 2.4 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 3 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 
 $18.4 
 2.0 
 27.2 
 5.5 
 8.6 
 .1 
 6.0 
 
 $18.4 
 2.0 
 30.8 
 5.7 
 9.6 
 .2 
 6.0 
 
 $18.4 
 
 
 2.0 
 
 
 26.6 
 
 Fuel 
 
 5.3 
 
 8.0 
 
 
 .1 
 6.0 
 
 
 
 
 67.8 
 3.7 
 
 72.7 
 4.0 
 
 66.4 
 
 
 3.7 
 
 
 71.5 
 
 $23.80 
 
 76.7 
 $32.00 
 
 70.1 
 
 
 $23.40 
 
 1 Based on operation of 2 complete systems. 
 
 TABLE 13. - Transportation operating costs, ventures 1, 2, and 3, 
 million 1981 dollars 
 
 
 1 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 2 — 2.4 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 3 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 Wages, benefits, subsistence, mainte- 
 
 $15.7 
 
 12.8 
 
 1.2 
 
 .8 
 
 $11.8 
 
 8.7 
 
 .9 
 
 .6 
 
 $11.8 
 
 Fuel 
 
 9.0 
 
 
 .9 
 
 
 .6 
 
 
 30.5 
 1.7 
 
 22.0 
 1.7 
 
 22.3 
 
 Supply vessel (including moorage).... 
 
 1.7 
 
 
 32.2 
 2.7 
 5.6 
 
 23.7 
 2.2 
 
 4.6 
 
 24.0 
 
 
 2.7 
 
 
 5.6 
 
 
 40.5 
 2.4 
 
 30.5 
 1.7 
 
 32.3 
 
 
 2.0 
 
 
 42.9 
 
 $14.30 
 
 32.2 
 $13.40 
 
 34.3 
 
 
 $11.40 
 
32 
 
 TABLE 14. - Cuprion and ferromanganese plant operating cost, ventures 1, 2, and 3, 
 million 1981 dollars 
 
 
 1 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 2 — 2.4 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 3 — 3.0 million 
 dry t/yr 
 
 CUPRION PLANT 
 
 $4.0 
 
 35.9 
 
 16.5 
 
 6.9 
 
 37.0 
 
 2.4 
 
 .2 
 
 $3.3 
 
 29.4 
 
 13.5 
 
 5.6 
 
 31.7 
 
 2.1 
 
 .2 
 
 $4.0 
 
 
 35.9 
 16.5 
 
 
 6.9 
 
 Capital charges (maintenance, mate- 
 
 37.0 
 
 2.4 
 
 .2 
 
 
 102.9 
 5.1 
 
 85.8 
 4.3 
 
 102.9 
 
 
 5.1 
 
 
 108.0 
 
 90.1 
 
 108.0 
 
 FERROMANGANESE PLANT 1 
 Materials and supplies (including 
 
 22.2 
 
 48.9 
 
 14.4 
 
 6.3 
 
 22.2 
 48.9 
 
 14.4 
 6.3 
 
 22.2 
 48.9 
 
 
 14.4 
 6.3 
 
 
 91.8 
 4.6 
 
 91.8 
 4.6 
 
 91.8 
 
 
 4.6 
 
 
 
 
 96.4 
 
 96.4 
 
 96.4 
 
 Total annual cost (both 
 Cost per dry metric ton: 
 
 204.4 
 
 $36.00 
 32.10 
 
 186.5 
 
 $37.50 
 
 40.20 
 
 204.4 
 $36.00 
 
 
 32.10 
 
 
 68.10 
 
 77.70 
 
 68.10 
 
 final ferromanganese 
 
 1 Includes flotation, calcining, smelting, and handling of the 
 product. Capacity would be 1.4 million t/yr for all ventures. 
 
 Calculated on basis of total dry metric tons of nodule material processed, not 
 just quantity processed in ferromanganese plant. 
 
 Operating cost differences among the 
 three ventures somewhat parallel differ- 
 ences in investment costs. The larger, 
 heavier collector is primarily responsi- 
 ble for high costs of venture 2 mining, 
 while running an extra transport vessel 
 over longer distances makes transporta- 
 tion of venture 1 ore most costly. Econ- 
 omy of scale for Cuprion processing 
 results in slightly cheaper processing of 
 nodules for ventures 1 and 3. 
 
 COST SUMMARY 
 
 Capital and operating costs discussed 
 in previous sections are summarized in 
 
 tables 15 and 16. Initial investments 
 are large, ranging from about $1.5 to 
 nearly $1.7 billion for a three-metal 
 nickel, copper, and cobalt operation. A 
 plant to process approximately 1.4 mil- 
 lion t tails annually to produce ferro- 
 manganese would require about $130 mil- 
 lion additional capital. Estimates of 
 operating costs are from $71 to $83 
 per dry metric ton without manganese 
 recovery and from $103 to $123 per 
 dry metric ton with production of 
 ferromanganese . 
 
 Probably no effective means exist to 
 significantly reduce capital costs for 
 
33 
 
 TABLE 15. - Capital cost summary, ventures 1, 2, and 3, 
 million 1981 dollars 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 $538.7 
 350.0 
 757.0 
 
 $559.9 
 266.7 
 656.6 
 
 $521.4 
 278.2 
 757.0 
 
 Total 
 
 1,645.7 
 129.3 
 
 1,483.2 
 128.0 
 
 1,556.6 
 
 
 129.3 
 
 
 1,775.0 
 
 1,611.2 
 
 1,685.9 
 
 * Capacity, and consequently investment, would remain con- 
 stant for the ferromanganese plants except for slightly less 
 
 working capital for venture 2; a result of 
 capacity. 
 
 lower startup 
 
 TABLE 16. - Operating cost summary, ventures 1, 2, and 3, 1981 
 dollars per dry metric ton 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 $23.80 
 14.30 
 36.00 
 
 $32.00 
 13.40 
 37.50 
 
 $23.40 
 
 
 11.40 
 
 
 36.00 
 
 Total 
 
 74.10 
 32.10 
 
 82.90 
 40.20 
 
 70.80 
 
 
 32.10 
 
 
 106.20 
 
 123.10 
 
 102.90 
 
 mine, transportation, or benef iciation 
 systems as conceived and described. How- 
 ever, operating costs, particularly mine 
 operating costs, might decrease as expe- 
 rience is gained. Other mine systems 
 such as a continuous line bucket, could 
 possibly cost less to build and operate, 
 but technical feasibility has yet to be 
 demonstrated. Scaling down to 1 million 
 dry t/yr, for example, would reduce capi- 
 tal, but increase unit operating costs. 
 
 A reduction in transportation costs 
 could be realized for ventures 1 and 2 by 
 
 placing the processing plant nearer the 
 minesite, possibly on the island of 
 Hawaii. The number of transports and 
 distances traveled would be reduced but 
 increased energy and land costs could 
 possibly offset savings. 
 
 A savings of plant capital could be 
 accomplished by purchasing power for 
 operations instead of installing genera- 
 tors or by using oil-burning rather than 
 coal-burning equipment. Both actions, 
 however, would probably result in sig- 
 nificant increases in operating costs. 
 
 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS 7 
 
 Financial analyses were carried out us- 
 ing the Bureau of Mines MINSIM4 computer 
 program ( 47 ) . This program calculates 
 either the discounted cash flow rate of 
 return (DCFROR) or determines a product 
 value requisite to achieve a given 
 
 7 B. B. Gosling, physical scientist, 
 Western Field Operations Center ran the 
 computer program and provided expert 
 advice. 
 
 DCFROR. Both analyses were conducted for 
 ventures 1, 2, and 3, with and without 
 additional investment for a ferromanga- 
 nese plant. The target DCFROR used for 
 the metal value determination option was 
 15 pet, an amount considered minimally 
 attractive to any potential mine opera- 
 tor. Considering the high technical and 
 political risks, a DCFROR of twice this 
 amount (30 pet) would be more in line for 
 a deep ocean mining venture. 
 
34 
 
 Several assumptions were made in the 
 analyses which have a material impact on 
 results. First, financing is assumed to 
 be 100 pet equity capital. Therefore, 
 there are no finance charges such as cap- 
 italized interest during construction or 
 interest expense during the subsequent 
 operational period, when loans are nor- 
 mally amortized. 
 
 Because of the high degree of uncer- 
 tainty in predicting reasonable values 10 
 to 15 yr hence, no escalation factors for 
 costs or metal prices have been applied. 
 The assumption is that average costs and 
 revenues will escalate at the same rate 
 as inflation. Included in the analyses 
 are allowances for State and Federal in- 
 come taxes, property taxes, and a 0.75- 
 pct excise tax on gross value required by 
 the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources 
 Act. Depletion allowances of 15 pet for 
 copper and 22 pet for nickel, cobalt, and 
 f erromanganese are also included. 
 
 A relatively aggressive project devel- 
 opment schedule for all three ventures is 
 depicted in figure 15 (see reference 30 
 for detailed discussion of investment 
 timing). Research and development, pros- 
 pecting, and exploration costs before 
 year 1 are previously written off and 
 not included in the financial analyses. 
 Because of the requirement for 
 extraordinary physical detail, minesite 
 
 exploration would begin immediately and 
 would continue through year 29, except 
 for years 7 through 9 when the explora- 
 tion ship and crew would participate in 
 full-scale mining tests. Plant construc- 
 tion would occur in years 5 through 8 and 
 ship construction would take place in 
 years 6 through 9. Modifications devel- 
 oped during full-scale testing of the 
 first ship would be incorporated in the 
 second ship. Partial production would 
 begin in year 10, and full production 
 would be scheduled for years 12 through 
 30. For financial purposes, exploration 
 cost is considered a capital cost prior 
 to startup and an operating cost 
 thereafter. 
 
 Table 17 shows total revenues derived 
 from each venture based on the following 
 prices, in January 1981 dollars: 
 
 Nickel: 
 
 Per kilogram $7.72 
 
 Per pound 3.50 
 
 Copper: 
 
 Per kilogram 1 .97 
 
 Per pound .89 
 
 Cobalt: 
 
 Per kilogram 15.44 
 
 Per pound 7 . 00 
 
 Ferromanganese (78 pet Mn) : 
 
 Per metric ton 502.00 
 
 Per long ton 510.00 
 
 i i i 
 
 Research and development 
 
 ' 1 
 
 Plant and ship construction 
 
 Startup 
 
 Detailed 
 
 ■ ■ 
 
 Full production 
 
 exploration 
 
 J— L 
 
 i i i i i 
 
 •H 
 
 i i i i I i I i i i 
 
 10 
 
 20 
 
 15 
 YEARS 
 
 FIGURE 15. - Project development schedule. 
 
 25 
 
 30 
 
35 
 
 TABLE 17. - Total commodity revenues, ventures 1, 2, and 3, 
 million January 1981 dollars 
 
 Nickel 
 
 Copper 
 
 Cobalt 
 
 3-metal total 
 
 Ferromanganese (78 pet Mn) 
 4-metal total 
 
 1 
 
 $5,309 
 1,042 
 1,212 
 
 7,563 
 2,052 
 
 9,615 
 
 $4,737 
 1,034 
 1,154 
 
 6,925 
 1,606 
 
 8,531 
 
 $5,432 
 1,084 
 1,500 
 
 8,016 
 1,978 
 
 9,994 
 
 The January 1981 cobalt price was consid- 
 ered artificially high; therefore, it was 
 set at twice the nickel price — the ap- 
 proximate historical (1957-76) ratio be- 
 tween the prices. 
 
 Nickel, by far the most important com- 
 modity, would produce 54 to 56 pet of the 
 revenue for four-metal operations and 
 68 to 70 pet for three-metal plants. If, 
 despite the significant increase in sup- 
 ply, cobalt prices were to remain high, 
 cobalt would rival nickel as the major 
 revenue producer. 
 
 Discounted cash flow rate of return 
 forecasts by the Bureau's MINSIM4 program 
 are shown in table 18. All results are 
 based on descriptions, costs, and sched- 
 uling contained in this and previous sec- 
 tions. Projected rates of return are 
 very low. Venture 3, three-metal opera- 
 tion, is potentially the the most profit- 
 able, followed by venture 3, four-metal 
 
 operation. Interestingly enough, inclu- 
 sion of a ferromanganese plant decreases 
 the apparent profitability of all three 
 ventures. 
 
 TABLE 18. - Projected rates of return, 
 ventures 1, 2, and 3, percent 
 
 Venture 
 
 3-metal 
 process 
 
 4-metal 
 process 
 
 1 
 
 4.1 
 5.0 
 6.0 
 
 3.5 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 2.7 
 5.2 
 
 Additional MINSIM4 runs were completed 
 for each venture to determine revenue 
 increases required to produce a DCFROR 
 of 15 pet. In general, a 60- to 80-pct 
 increase in total revenue would be re- 
 quired to achieve this modest return on 
 capital for three- and four-metal opera- 
 tions. It is doubtful that such a real 
 gain in metal prices will occur in the 
 near future. 
 
 PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY 
 
 In all likelihood, no significant pro- 
 duction of manganese nodules will occur 
 in the foreseeable future. Economic, 
 political, and, to a lesser extent, tech- 
 nical factors combine to exert a large 
 negative influence. Poor economics, a 
 situation illustrated by the financial 
 analyses in the previous section, is 
 largely the result of depressed metal 
 markets and high energy, labor, and mate- 
 rial costs. 
 
 Political uncertainty continues because 
 the longstanding questions of rights and 
 ownership of deep sea mineral resources 
 continue unresolved despite passage of 
 the Law of the Sea (LOS) Treaty. A total 
 
 of 47 countries, including the United 
 States, United Kingdom, Federal Republic 
 of Germany, and Japan, did not sign the 
 treaty even though certain ■'grandfather'* 
 rights were accorded existing ocean min- 
 ing consortia. The principal objection by 
 industrialized nations is their lack of 
 meaningful participation in future plan- 
 ning and regulatory processes. Specifi- 
 cally, resource development, production 
 quotas, technology transfer, licensing, 
 and taxation would be virtually con- 
 trolled by developing countries. U.S. 
 legislation (Public Law 96-283) , estab- 
 lishing a domestic regulatory regime for 
 mining deep ocean minerals , is presently 
 being used as a basis for negotiations 
 
36 
 
 between nonsignatories. The intent is 
 to establish a series of reciprocat- 
 ing states agreements through which min- 
 ing could take place outside the LOS 
 Treaty. 
 
 The major technological problem is 
 whether full mine production can be 
 reached and sustained for the life of the 
 project. Collector effectiveness and re- 
 liability are probably the biggest un- 
 knowns. Certain aspects of ore handling 
 and processing will require additional 
 research and development, but appear to 
 be well within current technological 
 capabilities. 
 
 If, in spite of the aforementioned 
 problems, development does occur, then 
 
 the U.S. supply position of cer- 
 tain strategic metals would improve 
 materially. Information in table 19 
 illustrates this point. U.S. consumption 
 of nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese 
 in 1978 is listed, as well as projected 
 consumption in years 1990 and 2000. The 
 significant 1978 reliance on imports of 
 nickel, cobalt, and manganese is also 
 indicated. This reliance is expected to 
 continue at a high level. Inspection of 
 annual production figures from proposed 
 ventures 1, 2, and 3 show that just one 
 operation would produce from 12 to 13 pet 
 of the projected nickel requirements, 31 
 to Al pet of cobalt needs, and 10 pet of 
 the manganese requirements in 1990, 
 and somewhat less of projected needs in 
 year 2000. Production from all three 
 
 TABLE 19. - Comparison of U.S. consumption 1 of nickel, copper, cobalt, and 
 manganese with potential production from ventures 1, 2, and 3 
 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mn 
 
 Consumption, thousand t: 
 
 Actual , 1978 
 
 163.7 
 
 272.2 
 
 399.2 
 
 80 
 
 1,879 
 
 2,500 
 
 3,200 
 
 20 
 
 8.8 
 
 12.5 
 
 15.9 
 
 95 
 
 1,236 
 
 Projected, 1990 
 
 1,615 
 
 Projected, 2000 .- 
 
 1,814 
 
 
 97 
 
 Potential annual production, 2 thousand t: 
 
 35.9 
 32.0 
 36.7 
 
 27.6 
 27.4 
 28.7 
 
 4.1 
 3.9 
 5.1 
 
 163.8 
 
 
 163.8 
 
 
 163.8 
 
 
 104.6 
 
 83.7 
 
 13.1 
 
 491.4 
 
 Amount of projected consumption supplied, pet: 
 1990: 
 
 13 
 12 
 13 
 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 
 33 
 31 
 41 
 
 10 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 38 
 
 3 
 
 105 
 
 30 
 
 2000: 
 
 9 
 8 
 9 
 
 <1 
 <1 
 <1 
 
 26 
 24 
 32 
 
 9 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 26 
 
 <3 
 
 82 
 
 27 
 
 ^Consumption figures do not include utilization of recycled metals, 
 primary production. Projected (46) annual growth of primary usage 
 1978 base is as follows, in percent: Ni , 3.7; Cu, 2.4; Co, 2.5; Mn, 
 
 2 Venture production based on the following recoveries, in percent 
 92; Cu, 92; Co, 65. Production of Mn for each venture would be 163 
 (210,000 t ferromanganese (78 pet Mn)). 
 
 only 
 from a 
 1.4. 
 : Ni, 
 ,800 t 
 
 Source: References 9, 32, 40, 42, and 46. 
 
37 
 
 ventures would probably eliminate need 
 for imported cobalt, and drastically re- 
 duce U.S. reliance on foreign nickel and 
 
 manganese, while having a very minor ef- 
 fect on the domestic copper industry. 
 
 SUMMARY 
 
 Based on analysis of available resource 
 data for study areas in the northeast 
 Pacific Ocean, three subareas appear to 
 contain manganese nodule deposits with 
 the best potential for economic mining. 
 These encompass or are adjacent to the 
 three DOMES Sites and are designated sub- 
 areas All, Bill, and CI. Subarea All 
 (36,000 km 2 ) contains an estimated 67.0 
 million dry t of recoverable resource, 
 with a grade of 1.30 wt pet nickel, 
 1.00 wt pet copper, and 0.21 wt pet co- 
 balt. Subarea Bill (64,600 km 2 ) contains 
 an estimated 66.9 million dry t of recov- 
 erable nodules , with an apparent grade of 
 1.45 wt pet nickel, 1.24 wt pet copper, 
 and 0.25 wt pet cobalt. Subarea CI 
 (57,600 km 2 ) contains an estimated recov- 
 erable resource of 148.8 million dry t 
 of nodules grading 1.33 wt pet nickel, 
 1.04 wt pet copper, and 0.26 wt pet co- 
 balt. Estimated manganese grade for the 
 three subareas ranges between 26.8 and 
 27.8 wt pet. 
 
 Costing of the proposed system to mine, 
 transport, and beneficiate the nodule 
 ore, indicates initial investments and 
 operation costs will be large. For 
 three-metal recovery of nickel, copper, 
 and cobalt, anticipated capital invest- 
 ments range from $1.5 billion to $1.7 
 billion (January 1981 costs); estimated 
 operating costs are from $71 to $83 per 
 metric ton of ore. If manganese is also 
 recovered in an optional 1.4 million t/yr 
 f erromanganese plant, estimated capital 
 costs would increase nearly $130 million; 
 operating costs would add an additional 
 $32 to $40 per metric ton of nodules 
 mined. 
 
 It may be difficult to significantly 
 reduce costs of the system as conceived 
 and described. Scaling down capacity, 
 purchasing power for the Cuprion plant 
 
 rather than installing generators, 
 or switching from coal- to oil-burning 
 equipment would reduce capital require- 
 ments , but would raise unit operating 
 costs. Transportation costs, both capi- 
 tal and operating, would be lower if 
 processing were carried out closer to 
 the minesite possibly on the island of 
 Hawaii. Fewer transport vessels would be 
 needed and distances traveled would be 
 shorter. However, increased land and 
 energy costs could partially offset 
 savings. Operating costs, particularly 
 those associated with mining, could be 
 lowered as experience is gained. 
 
 Financial analyses of proposed opera- 
 tions predict discounted cash flow rates 
 of return ranging from 2.7 to 6.0 pet. 
 Operations with ferromanganese recovery 
 may be slightly less profitable than 
 those without. At best, these rates of 
 return are only a fifth of the approxi- 
 mately 30-pct return that might be needed 
 to attract venture capital. Presently, 
 it is difficult to envision any manganese 
 nodule operation, based on current tech- 
 nology and economics , that can realize 
 more than a marginally acceptable 
 profit. 
 
 If mining of nodules does occur in the 
 near future, a significant lessening of 
 U.S. reliance on imported nickel, cobalt, 
 and manganese would be achieved. Just 
 one proposed venture could supply the 
 following percentages of projected U.S. 
 demands for 1990: nickel, 12 to 13; 
 cobalt, 31 to 41; and manganese, 10. 
 Production from all three ventures would 
 drastically reduce dependence on imported 
 nickel and manganese and essentially 
 eliminate the need for foreign cobalt. 
 Detrimental effects on the domestic cop- 
 per industry would be negligible. 
 
38 
 
 REFERENCES 
 
 1. Agarwal, J. C, H. E. Barner, 
 N. Beecher, D. S. Davies , and R. N. Kust. 
 Kennecott Process for Recovery of Copper, 
 Nickel, Cobalt, and Molybdenum From 
 Ocean Nodules. Min. Eng. , v. 31, 1979, 
 pp. 1704-1707. 
 
 2. Agarwal, J. C, N. Beecher, D. S. 
 Davies, G. L. Hubred, V. K. Kakaria, and 
 R. N. Kust. Processing of Ocean Nod- 
 ules: A Technical and Economic Review. 
 J. Met., v. 28, No. 4, 1976, pp. 24-31. 
 
 3. American Association of Petroleum 
 Geologists. Geographic Map of the 
 Circum-Pacif ic Region-Northeast Quadrant. 
 Tulsa, OK, 1977. 
 
 4. Andrews, B. V. Relative Costs of 
 U.S. and Foreign Nodule Transport Ships 
 (contract 7-13775, B. V. Andrews Trans- 
 portation Consultant). U.S. Dept. of 
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 PB 283194. 
 
 5. Andrews, B. V. (B. V. Andrews 
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 6. Arthur D. Little, Inc. Technolog- 
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 Nodule Mining and Processing (Revised) 
 (contract 14-01-0001-2114). U.S. Dept. 
 of the Interior, Office of Minerals Pol- 
 icy and Research Analysis, Washington, 
 DC, 1979, 75 pp. 
 
 7. Brown, F. (E.I.C. Corp.). Private 
 communication, 1981; available upon re- 
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 8. Dames & Moore, and E.I.C. Corpora- 
 tion. Description of Manganese Nodule 
 Processing Activities for Environment 
 Studies, Vol. III. Processing Systems 
 Technical Analysis (contract 6-35331). 
 U.S. Dept. of Commerce-NOAA, Office of 
 
 Marine Minerals, Rockville, MD, 1977, 
 540 pp.; NTIS PB 274912 (set). 
 
 9. DeHuff, G. L. , and T. S. Jones. 
 Manganese. Ch. in Mineral Facts and 
 Problems, 1980 Edition. BuMines B 671, 
 1981, pp. 549-562. 
 
 10. Felix, D. Some Problems in Making 
 Nodule Abundance Estimates From Seafloor 
 Photographs. Marine Min., v. 2, 1980, 
 pp. 293-302. 
 
 11. Fewkes, R. H. , W. D. McFarland, 
 W. R. Reinhart, and R. K. Sorem. Devel- 
 opment of a Reliable Method for Evalua- 
 tion of Deep Sea Manganese Nodule Depos- 
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 BuMines OFR 64-80, 1979, 94 pp.; NTIS 
 PB 80-182116. 
 
 12. . Evaluation of Metal Re- 
 sources at and Near Proposed Deep Sea 
 Mine Sites (grant GO284008, WA State 
 Univ.). BuMines OFR 108-80, 1980, 
 239 pp.; NTIS PB 80-228992. 
 
 13. Fewkes, R. H. , W. D. McFarland, 
 and R. K. Sorem. Manganese Nodule Re- 
 source Data, Sea Scope Expedition (grant 
 GO284008, WA State Univ.). BuMines OFR 
 144-81, 1981; NTIS PB 82-142571. 
 
 14. Fisk, M. B., J. Z. Frazer, J. S. 
 Elliott, and L. L. Wilson. Availability 
 of Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, and Manganese 
 From Ocean Ferromanganese Nodules (II) 
 (grant GO254024, Scripps Inst. Oceanog- 
 raphy). BuMines OFR 140(l)-80, 1979, 
 63 pp.; NTIS PB 81-145963. 
 
 15. Flipse, J. E. An Engineering Ap- 
 proach to Ocean Mining. Pres. at Off- 
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 16. . Deep Ocean Mining Pollu- 
 tion Mitigation. Pres. at Offshore Tech. 
 Conf., Houston, TX, May 1980, Paper 3834, 
 5 pp. 
 
39 
 
 17. Flipse, J. E. (J. E. Flipse Marine 
 Mining Consultant). Private communica- 
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 C. T. Hillman, BuMines , Spokane, WA. 
 
 18. Frazer, J. Z. Manganese Nodule 
 Reserves: An Updated Estimate. Marine 
 Min., v. 1, 1977, pp. 103-123. 
 
 19. Frazer, J. Z., and G. Arrhenius. 
 World-wide Distribution of Ferromanganese 
 Nodules and Element Concentrations in Se- 
 lected Pacific Ocean Nodules. U.S. Na- 
 tional Science Foundation-IDOE, Washing- 
 ton, DC, 1972, 51 pp.; NTIS PB 234011. 
 
 20. Frazer, J. Z. , and M. B. Fisk. 
 Availability of Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, 
 and Manganese From Ocean Ferromanganese 
 Nodules (III) (grant GO264024, Scripps 
 Inst. Oceanography). BuMines OFR 140 
 (2)-80, 1979, 112 pp.; NTIS PB 81-145971. 
 
 21. 
 
 Geological Factors Related 
 
 to Characteristics of Seafloor Manganese 
 Nodule Deposits (grant GO264024, Scripps 
 Inst. Oceanography). BuMines OFR 142-80, 
 1980, 41 pp.; NTIS PB 81-145831. 
 
 22. Frazer, J. Z., M. B. Fisk, J. El- 
 liott, M. White, and L. Wilson. Availa- 
 bility of Copper, Nickel, Cobalt, and 
 Manganese From Ocean Ferromanganese Nod- 
 ules (grant GO264024, Scripps Inst. 
 Oceanography). BuMines OFR 121-79, 1978, 
 141 pp.; NTIS PB 300 356. 
 
 23. Gale, G. D. (U.S. Bureau of 
 Mines). Private communication, 1981; 
 available upon request from C. T. Hill- 
 man, BuMines, Spokane, WA. 
 
 24. Grote, P. B., and W. Gayman. A 
 Technical Basis for the Development of 
 Deep Ocean Mining Regulations (contract 
 J0177131, Sci. Applications, Inc.). Bu- 
 Mines OFR 87-80, 1979, 310 pp. 
 
 25. Heezen, B. C. , and M. Tharp. 
 Bathymetric and Nodule Assessment Map 
 Series, Northeast Equatorial Pacific 
 Ocean. U.S. Geol. Surv. Misc. Invest. 
 Series. Maps 1-1094 A - 1-1094 0, 1978. 
 
 26. Hillman, C. T. Manganese Nodule 
 Resources of Site C, Northeast Equatorial 
 Pacific Ocean. Unpublished BuMines re- 
 port, 1980, 43 pp.; available for consul- 
 tation at Western Field Operations Cen- 
 ter, Spokane, WA. 
 
 27. Hillman, C. T., and R. D. Weldin. 
 A Preliminary Evaluation of a Deep Ocean 
 Polymetallic Nodule Deposit. Unpublished 
 BuMines report, 1976, 38 pp.; available 
 for consultation at Western Field Opera- 
 tions Center, Spokane, WA. 
 
 28. Hillman, C. T., and N. Wetzel. 
 Manganese Nodule Resources Within the 
 Northeast Pacific High Grade Zone. Un- 
 published BuMines report, 1980, 85 pp.; 
 available for consultation at Western 
 Field Operations Center, Spokane, WA. 
 
 29. Horn, D. R. , B. M. Horn, and 
 M. N. Delach. Sedimentary Provinces, 
 North Pacific. Chart compiled by Lamont- 
 Doherty Geol. Observatory, Columbia 
 Univ., Palisades, NY, 1973. 
 
 30. Jugel, M. K. Deep Seabed Mining 
 Industrial Development — Approaches and 
 Their Timing. NOAA Draft Report, July 
 22, 1982, 15 pp.; available for consulta- 
 tion at Office of Marine Minerals, Rock- 
 ville, MD. 
 
 31. Kollwentz, W. Prospecting and Ex- 
 ploration of Manganese Nodule Occur- 
 rences. Ch. in Review of the Activities; 
 Edition 18, Manganese Nodules - Metals 
 from the Sea. Metallgesellschaf t AG, 
 1975, pp. 12-26. 
 
 32. Matthews, N. A., and S. F. Sibley. 
 Nickel. Ch. in Mineral Facts and 
 Problems, 1980 Edition. BuMines B 671, 
 1981, pp. 611-627. 
 
 33. Menard, H. W. Marine Geology of 
 the Pacific. McGraw-Hill, 1964, 271 pp. 
 
 34. Moncrieff, A. G., and K. B. Smale- 
 Adams . The Economics of First Generation 
 Manganese Nodule Operations. Min. Congr. 
 J., v. 60, No. 12, 1974, pp. 46-50. 
 
40 
 
 35. Monhemius , A. J. The Extractive 
 Metallurgy of Deep Sea Manganese Nodules. 
 Ch. in Topics in Nonferrous Extractive 
 Metallurgy. Soc. Chem. Ind., 1980, 
 pp. 42-69. 
 
 36. Mudie, J. D. , J. A. Grow, and 
 J. S. Bessey. A Near-Bottom Survey of 
 Lineated Abyssal Hills in the Equatorial 
 Pacific. Ch. in Marine Geophysical 
 Researches 1. D. Reidel Publ. Co., 1972, 
 pp. 397-411. 
 
 37. Ozturgut, E., G . C. Anderson, 
 R. E. Burns, J. W. Lavaelle, and S. A. 
 Swift. Deep Ocean Mining of Manganese in 
 the North Pacific, Premining Environ- 
 mental Conditions and Anticipated Mining 
 Effects. U.S. Dept. of Commerce-NOAA 
 Tech. Memorandum ERL MESA-33, 1978, 
 133 pp.; available upon request from 
 C. T. Hillman, BuMines , Spokane, WA. 
 
 38. Piper, D. Z. (comp.). Deep Ocean 
 Environmental Study: Geology and Geo- 
 chemistry of DOMES Sites A, B, and C, 
 Equatorial North Pacific. U.S. Geol. 
 Surv. OFR 77-778, 1977, pp. 217-266; 
 available for consultation at U.S. Geo- 
 logical Survey libraries in Menlo Park, 
 CA, Golden, CO, and Reston, VA. 
 
 39. Ryan, W. B. T. , and B. C. Heezen. 
 Smothering of Deep Sea Benthic Commun- 
 ities From Natural Disasters. 1976, 
 132 pp.; NTIS PB 279527/AS. 
 
 40. Schroeder, H. J., and J. H. Jolly. 
 Copper. Ch. in Mineral Facts and Prob- 
 lems, 1980 Edition. BuMines B 671, 1981, 
 pp. 227-244. 
 
 41. Shaw, J. L. The Economics of an 
 Ocean Mining Project. Pres. at 4th In- 
 ternat. Ocean Development Conf., Tokyo, 
 Japan, 1976, 14 pp.; available upon 
 
 request from C. T. Hillman, BuMines, Spo- 
 kane , WA . 
 
 42. Sibley, S. F. Cobalt. Ch. in 
 Mineral Facts and Problems, 1980 Edition. 
 BuMines B 671, 1981, pp. 199-214. 
 
 43. Sorem, R. K. , and R. H. Fewkes. 
 Manganese Nodule Research Data, and Meth- 
 ods of Investigation. IFI/Plenum, 1979, 
 723 pp. 
 
 44. Sullivan, A. F., and F. A. Ruggeri. 
 Submerged Pumps for Deep Ocean Min- 
 ing. CIMBull., v. 67, No. 752, 1974, 
 pp. 80-85. 
 
 45. Tins ley, C. R. Manganese Nodule 
 Mining Industry: A Study of Expected In- 
 vestment Requirements. Ch. in Manganese 
 Nodules, Dimensions, and Perspectives. 
 D. Reidel Publ. Co., 1979, pp. 119-138. 
 
 46. U.S. Bureau of Mines. Mineral 
 Commodity Summaries. 1981, pp. 36, 49, 
 94, 104. 
 
 47. . MINSIM4/0PEN Documenta- 
 tion. Unpublished internal document, 
 1979, 58 pp.; available upon request from 
 B. B. Gosling, BuMines, Spokane, WA. 
 
 48. U.S. Navy. Marine Climatic Atlas 
 of the World, Volume II, North Pacific 
 Ocean. Director, Naval Oceanography and 
 Meteorology, 1977, 388 pp. 
 
 49. Van Andel, T. H. , G. R. Heath, and 
 T. C. Moore. Cenozoic History and 
 Paleoceanography of the Central Equato- 
 rial Pacific Ocean: A Regional Synthesis 
 of Deep Sea Drilling Data. Geol. Soc. 
 Am. Memoir 143, 1975, 134 pp. 
 
 50. Welling, C. G. Next Step in Ocean 
 Mining — Large Scale Test. Min. Congr. 
 J., v. 62, No. 12, 1976, pp. 46-51. 
 
41 
 
 APPENDIX A.— DISCUSSION OF ABUNDANCE AND RESOURCE ESTIMATES 
 
 Abundance is defined as the weight of 
 nodules per unit area of seafloor, and is 
 usually given in either wet or dry kilo- 
 grams per square meter. This expression 
 may be easily converted to metric tons 
 per square kilometer by multiplying by a 
 factor of 1,000. Therefore, an abun- 
 dance of 6 kg/m 2 would be equivalent to 
 6,000 t/km 2 . Dry abundance is only about 
 70 pet of wet abundance, because nodules 
 are extremely porous and contain approxi- 
 mately 30 wt pet water. Therefore, a wet 
 nodule abundance of 10 kg/m 2 would equal 
 7 kg/m 2 dry. 
 
 Resource quantities are generally ex- 
 pressed in dry metric tons and are ob- 
 tained by multiplying average dry abun- 
 dance by the size (square kilometers) of 
 the site being considered. If, for ex- 
 ample, an area covers 10,000 km 2 and has 
 an average wet abundance of 8.6 kg/m 2 , 
 the resource quantity would be calculated 
 as follows: 
 
 1 . Convert wet abundance to dry 
 abundance — 
 
 8.6 kg/m 2 (wet) x 0.70 
 = 6.0 kg/m 2 (dry). 
 
 2. Convert dry abundance to metric 
 tons per square kilometer — 
 
 6.0 kg/m 2 (dry) x l x 10 6 m 2 /km 2 
 = 6.0 x 10 6 kg/km 2 (dry). 
 
 6.0 x 10 6 kg/km 2 * 1,000 kg/t 
 = 6,000 t/km 2 . 
 
 3. Determine resource quantity of 
 10,000-km 2 area— 
 
 6,000 t/km 2 (dry) x 10,000 km 2 
 = 60,000,000 t (dry). 
 
 Calculated in this manner, the total 
 tonnage is considered a gross estimate, 
 and should be reduced by a series of 
 practical considerations to get a reason- 
 able estimate of recoverable resource 
 (see text). 
 
 Abundances, the basis for resource es- 
 timates, are derived from bottom sam- 
 pling, seafloor photographs, and tele- 
 vision video tapes. Bottom samples 
 provide the best data. To determine 
 abundance, recovered nodules are simply 
 weighed and the weight is then divided by 
 the area of seafloor sampled (a constant 
 for each sampling device). 
 
 Box cores and certain grab samplers , 
 such as the 0kean-70 (Japanese) , take a 
 large sample and thereby afford the 
 most accurate estimate. Also, because of 
 specialized construction and weight of 
 these devices, there is a low probability 
 that portions of the sample will be lost. 
 Additionally, box core samples are rela- 
 tively undisturbed and can be used for a 
 variety of studies. The main drawback is 
 that use of these devices is time consum- 
 ing and expensive, because they must be 
 lowered and raised by cable. Conversely, 
 use of free-fall devices is comparatively 
 cheap. Many can be launched overboard 
 (without tether) and recovered in rela- 
 tively short periods of time, but there 
 is a continuing risk that an incom- 
 plete sample will be taken or portions 
 lost during ascent. Therefore, estimates 
 based on grab samples are apt to be less 
 than true abundances. 
 
 Seafloor photography and television are 
 excellent tools for judging continuity 
 between sample points. However, diffi- 
 culties exist in converting apparent nod- 
 ule populations in photographs or video 
 tapes to abundances . One problem is that 
 individual nodule weights must be esti- 
 mated by comparing cross-sectional area 
 with graphs developed from nearby bottom 
 sampling. A second, more serious problem 
 is that portions of nodules are usually 
 obscured by a light coating of sediment. 
 Felix (10) 1 indicates that significantly 
 low estimates may result. Correction 
 factors can be determined and applied if 
 
 ^Underlined numbers in parentheses re- 
 fer to items in the list of references 
 preceding this appendix. 
 
42 
 
 a detailed sampling program is carried 
 out. No such detail is now publicly 
 available. 
 
 Abundances in this report are based on 
 average estimates from 185 ship stations. 
 Because raw data were developed on a 
 random basis, no attempt was made to 
 
 differentiate between estimates based on 
 box cores , grab samples , or photographs , 
 nor was more significance placed on any 
 particular estimate method. This being 
 the case, assigned abundances and conse- 
 quently resource tonnages are probably 
 low, and are considered minimum values. 
 
43 
 
 APPENDIX B. —SAMPLE STATION LOCATIONS, ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES, AND ANALYSES 
 
 FOR STUDY AREAS A, B, AND C 
 
 This appendix contains a series of 
 tables with all available sample data for 
 each subarea. Tables B-7, B-ll, and B-14 
 
 contain information from additional sam- 
 ples taken from locations nearby, yet 
 outside subarea boundaries. 
 
 TABLE B-l. - Subarea AI — location, abundance, and analytical data 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis, wt 
 
 pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 206 
 
 11.132 
 
 148.072 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.19 
 
 0.22 
 
 
 29.30 
 
 6.20 
 
 207 
 
 10.978 
 
 148.325 
 
 
 
 1.32 
 
 1.12 
 
 .21 
 
 
 25.40 
 
 6.53 
 
 208 
 
 11.030 
 
 148.382 
 
 
 
 1.48 
 
 1.12 
 
 .19 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 6.30 
 
 209 
 
 11.018 
 
 148.498 
 
 
 
 1.24 
 
 1.03 
 
 .20 
 
 0.05 
 
 25.00 
 
 5.44 
 
 210 
 
 11.513 
 
 148.578 
 
 
 
 1.09 
 
 .95 
 
 .17 
 
 
 22.40 
 
 5.30 
 
 211 
 
 11.803 
 
 148.662 
 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.31 
 
 .20 
 
 .06 
 
 28.70 
 
 5.78 
 
 212 
 
 11.233 
 
 148.833 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 213 
 
 11.817 
 
 148.933 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 .75 
 
 .50 
 
 .25 
 
 
 20.00 
 
 9.90 
 
 214 
 
 11.167 
 
 148.950 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 215 
 
 11.487 
 
 149.183 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .77 
 
 .24 
 
 .02 
 
 22.00 
 
 7.62 
 
 216 
 
 12.023 
 
 149.300 
 
 
 
 1.31 
 
 1.22 
 
 .23 
 
 .03 
 
 27.30 
 
 6.45 
 
 217 
 
 11.433 
 
 149.283 
 
 
 
 .79 
 
 .50 
 
 .18 
 
 
 17.20 
 
 14.50 
 
 218 
 
 11.667 
 
 150.117 
 
 
 
 1.28 
 
 .95 
 
 .23 
 
 
 24.00 
 
 6.95 
 
 219 
 
 11.970 
 
 150.308 
 
 
 
 1.23 
 
 1.08 
 
 .19 
 
 .03 
 
 24.50 
 
 7.54 
 
 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 0.23 
 
 12 
 
 0.98 
 
 0.26 
 
 12 
 
 0.21 
 
 0.03 
 
 12 
 
 0.04 
 
 0.02 
 
 5 
 
 24.23 
 
 3.48 
 
 12 
 
 7.38 
 
 
 Standard 
 Number of 
 
 
 2.56 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 NPr Nodules present, no additional information available. 
 1 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 
44 
 
 
 TABLE B-2. - Subarea All — location, abundance, 
 
 and analytical data 
 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysi 
 
 s, wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 32 
 
 9.035 
 
 145.000 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.01 
 
 0.17 
 
 0.06 
 
 30.90 
 
 6.30 
 
 33 
 
 8.980 
 
 145.110 
 
 
 
 1.42 
 
 1.17 
 
 .18 
 
 .06 
 
 30.10 
 
 5.90 
 
 34 
 
 8.955 
 
 145.807 
 
 
 
 1.62 
 
 1.35 
 
 .17 
 
 .06 
 
 28.30 
 
 4.64 
 
 35 
 
 8.867 
 
 146.440 
 
 
 13.87 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 8.902 
 
 146.443 
 
 
 11.25 
 
 1.47 
 
 1.08 
 
 .32 
 
 
 27.40 
 
 6.30 
 
 37 
 
 8.932 
 
 146.445 
 
 
 10.62 
 
 1.56 
 
 1.18 
 
 
 
 29.50 
 
 5.44 
 
 38 
 
 8.965 
 
 146.445 
 
 
 3.12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 39 
 
 9.047 
 
 146.457 
 
 
 4.37 
 
 1.89 
 
 1.52 
 
 
 
 32.00 
 
 3.65 
 
 40 
 
 9.050 
 
 146.487 
 
 
 8.75 
 
 1.52 
 
 1.06 
 
 
 
 31.00 
 
 5.66 
 
 41 
 
 8.997 
 
 146.497 
 
 
 18.12 
 
 1.31 
 
 .74 
 
 
 
 23.20 
 
 7.77 
 
 42 
 
 8.958 
 
 146.492 
 
 
 1.87 
 
 1.71 
 
 1.23 
 
 
 
 26.30 
 
 5.53 
 
 43 
 
 8.932 
 
 146.493 
 
 
 6.25 
 
 1.55 
 
 1.23 
 
 .17 
 
 
 29.40 
 
 5.20 
 
 44 
 
 8.897 
 
 146.492 
 
 
 14.37 
 
 1.78 
 
 1.43 
 
 
 
 30.70 
 
 5.04 
 
 45 
 
 9.057 
 
 146.542 
 
 
 3.75 
 
 1.91 
 
 1.60 
 
 
 
 30.40 
 
 4.02 
 
 46 
 
 9.062 
 
 146.572 
 
 
 9.00 
 
 1.44 
 
 1.12 
 
 
 
 26.50 
 
 4.57 
 
 47 
 
 8.965 
 
 146.668 
 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.22 
 
 .19 
 
 .05 
 
 29.90 
 
 5.85 
 
 48 
 
 8.740 
 
 147.532 
 
 
 
 1.47 
 
 1.22 
 
 .18 
 
 .05 
 
 30.10 
 
 5.74 
 
 49 
 
 8.727 
 
 147.590 
 
 
 
 1.48 
 
 1.27 
 
 .18 
 
 .06 
 
 29.60 
 
 5.68 
 
 50 
 
 8.575 
 
 147.778 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.25 
 
 .16 
 
 .05 
 
 27.30 
 
 5.98 
 
 51 
 
 9.100 
 
 145.300 
 
 
 
 1.52 
 
 1.27 
 
 .26 
 
 .04 
 
 26.20 
 
 5.30 
 
 52 
 
 9.447 
 
 145.555 
 
 
 
 1.44 
 
 1.14 
 
 .22 
 
 .05 
 
 28.30 
 
 5.75 
 
 53 
 
 9.657 
 
 146.332 
 
 
 
 1.33 
 
 1.08 
 
 .21 
 
 
 26.20 
 
 7.07 
 
 54 
 
 9.250 
 
 146.350 
 
 >50 
 
 
 1.24 
 
 .80 
 
 .26 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 6.50 
 
 55 
 
 8.590 
 
 146.300 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.20 
 
 .20 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 5.00 
 
 56 
 
 8.480 
 
 147.250 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.15 
 
 .25 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 5.00 
 
 57 
 
 9.503 
 
 145.805 
 
 , 
 
 
 1.60 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 58 
 
 9.457 
 
 145.825 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 30.60 
 
 6.00 
 
 59 
 
 9.457 
 
 145.828 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 31.20 
 
 5.30 
 
 60 
 
 9.457 
 
 145.833 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 32.30 
 
 5.00 
 
 61 
 
 9.457 
 
 145.838 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 31.20 
 
 5.40 
 
 62 
 
 9.457 
 
 145.842 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 5.00 
 
 63 
 
 9.453 
 
 145.842 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 5.00 
 
 64 
 
 9.457 
 
 145.845 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 29.00 
 
 5.60 
 
 65 
 
 9.498 
 
 145.828 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 29.80 
 
 6.00 
 
 66 
 
 9.508 
 
 145.828 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 29.40 
 
 6.00 
 
 67 
 
 9.502 
 
 145.828 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 68 
 
 9.523 
 
 145.828 
 
 
 
 1.60 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 30.50 
 
 5.00 
 
 69 
 
 9.512 
 
 145.828 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 28.30 
 
 5.30 
 
 70 
 
 9.517 
 
 145.828 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 30.30 
 
 6.00 
 
 71 
 
 9.505 
 
 145.850 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 31.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 72 
 
 9.518 
 
 145.850 
 
 
 
 1.70 
 
 1.40 
 
 
 
 33.30 
 
 4.50 
 
 73 
 
 9.515 
 
 145.850 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 30.70 
 
 5.50 
 
 74 
 
 9.522 
 
 145.850 
 
 
 
 1.60 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 29.00 
 
 5.00 
 
 75 
 
 9.520 
 
 145.855 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 29.00 
 
 5.50 
 
 76 
 
 9.458 
 
 145.867 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 31.20 
 
 5.60 
 
 77 
 
 9.458 
 
 145.870 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 30.40 
 
 5.80 
 
 79 
 
 9.458 
 
 145.880 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 31.60 
 
 5.80 
 
 80 
 
 9.458 
 
 145.885 
 
 
 
 1.60 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 31.40 
 
 5.70 
 
 81 
 
 9.375 
 
 145.882 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 31.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 82 
 
 9.373 
 
 145.885 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 6.20 
 
 See footnote at end of table. 
 
45 
 
 
 TABLE B-2. 
 
 - Subarea 
 
 All — location, 
 
 abundance , 
 
 and analytical dat 
 
 a — Continued 
 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis, wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 83 
 
 9.372 
 
 145.890 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 31.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 84 
 
 9.372 
 
 145.893 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 30.60 
 
 5.50 
 
 85 
 
 9.370 
 
 145.902 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 86 
 
 9.370 
 
 145.905 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 26.90 
 
 5.40 
 
 87 
 
 9.340 
 
 145.905 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 31.00 
 
 6.20 
 
 88 
 
 9.340 
 
 145.910 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 6.80 
 
 89 
 
 9.340 
 
 145.913 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .80 
 
 
 
 28.40 
 
 9.00 
 
 90 
 
 9.340 
 
 145.918 
 
 
 
 .80 
 
 .60 
 
 
 
 23.00 
 
 14.00 
 
 91 
 
 9.278 
 
 145.917 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 31.60 
 
 6.40 
 
 92 
 
 9.362 
 
 145.922 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 7.50 
 
 93 
 
 9.362 
 
 145.925 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .80 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 11.00 
 
 94 
 
 9.362 
 
 145.928 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 31.40 
 
 6.00 
 
 95 
 
 9.362 
 
 145.933 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 96 
 
 9.362 
 
 145.940 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 97 
 
 9.335 
 
 145.932 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 23.00 
 
 10.00 
 
 98 
 
 9.333 
 
 145.940 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .60 
 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 10.00 
 
 99 
 
 9.347 
 
 145.950 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 24.00 
 
 12.00 
 
 100 
 
 9.358 
 
 145.950 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .80 
 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 9.00 
 
 101 
 
 9.352 
 
 145.950 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 10.30 
 
 102 
 
 9.365 
 
 145.950 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 8.00 
 
 103 
 
 9.362 
 
 145.950 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .80 
 
 
 
 21.00 
 
 7.00 
 
 104 
 
 9.318 
 
 145.955 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .80 
 
 
 
 24.00 
 
 10.00 
 
 105 
 
 9.280 
 
 145.958 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 24.00 
 
 10.00 
 
 106 
 
 9.297 
 
 145.958 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 23.00 
 
 8.00 
 
 107 
 
 9.289 
 
 145.958 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 28.60 
 
 7.00 
 
 108 
 
 9.315 
 
 145.972 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .60 
 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 13.00 
 
 109 
 
 9.315 
 
 145.977 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 10.30 
 
 110 
 
 9.315 
 
 145.982 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 11.00 
 
 111 
 
 9.315 
 
 145.985 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 10.50 
 
 112 
 
 9.315 
 
 145.985 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 10.00 
 
 113 
 
 9.315 
 
 145.998 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .60 
 
 
 
 24.70 
 
 11.40 
 
 114 
 
 9.315 
 
 146.000 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 25.80 
 
 12.00 
 
 115 
 
 9.315 
 
 146.005 
 
 
 
 .80 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 26.40 
 
 12.00 
 
 116 
 
 9.315 
 
 146.008 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 30.30 
 
 5.70 
 
 117 
 
 9.328 
 
 145.978 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 11.00 
 
 118 
 
 9.337 
 
 145.983 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 8.00 
 
 119 
 
 9.308 
 
 145.987 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 120 
 
 9.357 
 
 146.015 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 5.50 
 
 121 
 
 9.265 
 
 146.017 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 5.50 
 
 122 
 
 9.267 
 
 146.022 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 30.80 
 
 5.40 
 
 123 
 
 9.272 
 
 146.027 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 31.00 
 
 5.60 
 
 124 
 
 9.275 
 
 146.032 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 30.80 
 
 5.00 
 
 125 
 
 9.278 
 
 146.035 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 30.50 
 
 
 126 
 
 9.280 
 
 146.040 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 29.50 
 
 6.00 
 
 127 
 
 9.322 
 
 146.018 
 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 31.50 
 
 5.50 
 
 128 
 
 9.315 
 
 146.020 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.30 
 
 
 
 27.50 
 
 5.00 
 
 129 
 
 9.313 
 
 146.023 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 24.80 
 
 9.70 
 
 130 
 
 9.313 
 
 146.028 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 29.40 
 
 8.00 
 
 131 
 
 9.313 
 
 146.032 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 6.20 
 
 132 
 
 9.313 
 
 146.043 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 23.50 
 
 13.00 
 
 See footnote at end of table, 
 
46 
 
 TABLE B-2. - Subarea All — location, abundance, and analytical data — Continued 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, * 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis , wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 133 
 
 9.520 
 
 146.035 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 25.30 
 
 4.30 
 
 134 
 
 9.268 
 
 146.042 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 5.80 
 
 135 
 
 9.270 
 
 146.043 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 29.70 
 
 5.40 
 
 136 
 
 9.273 
 
 146.047 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 5.50 
 
 137 
 
 9.275 
 
 146.050 
 
 
 
 1.70 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 29.00 
 
 7.00 
 
 138 
 
 9.278 
 
 146.055 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 27.80 
 
 
 139 
 
 9.282 
 
 146.060 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 27.80 
 
 
 140 
 
 9.452 
 
 146.043 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 30.50 
 
 6.00 
 
 141 
 
 9.523 
 
 146.048 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 2.80 
 
 142 
 
 9.523 
 
 146.053 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 4.20 
 
 143 
 
 9.523 
 
 146.060 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 26.40 
 
 3.50 
 
 144 
 
 9.523 
 
 146.062 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 27.30 
 
 5.00 
 
 145 
 
 9.505 
 
 146.048 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 29.00 
 
 5.70 
 
 146 
 
 9.515 
 
 146.050 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 4.00 
 
 147 
 
 9.515 
 
 146.060 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 27.80 
 
 4.80 
 
 148 
 
 9.515 
 
 146.063 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 26.40 
 
 4.70 
 
 149 
 
 9.515 
 
 146.067 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 7.60 
 
 150 
 
 9.515 
 
 146.070 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 25.60 
 
 8.80 
 
 151 
 
 9.503 
 
 146.062 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 26.40 
 
 4.80 
 
 152 
 
 9.503 
 
 146.065 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 26.30 
 
 7.00 
 
 153 
 
 9.503 
 
 146.070 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 26.70 
 
 7.00 
 
 154 
 
 9.503 
 
 146.080 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .80 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 9.70 
 
 155 
 
 9.297 
 
 146.063 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .80 
 
 
 
 23.80 
 
 11.40 
 
 156 
 
 9.358 
 
 146.067 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.10 
 
 
 
 31.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 157 
 
 9.305 
 
 146.073 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .60 
 
 
 
 23.20 
 
 10.30 
 
 158 
 
 9.308 
 
 146.077 
 
 - 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 24.50 
 
 13.00 
 
 159 
 
 9.312 
 
 146.082 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 25.30 
 
 12.00 
 
 160 
 
 9.315 
 
 146.085 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .60 
 
 
 
 25.20 
 
 12.00 
 
 161 
 
 9.290 
 
 146.073 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 7.00 
 
 162 
 
 9.342 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 8.40 
 
 163 
 
 9.322 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 .80 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 12.00 
 
 164 
 
 9.333 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 .80 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 27.30 
 
 11.70 
 
 165 
 
 9.332 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .60 
 
 
 
 26.30 
 
 12.70 
 
 166 
 
 9.327 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 26.20 
 
 13.00 
 
 167 
 
 9.270 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 7.00 
 
 168 
 
 9.273 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 27.20 
 
 6.50 
 
 169 
 
 9.265 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .90 
 
 
 
 23.00 
 
 7.40 
 
 170 
 
 9.262 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 1.60 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 27.80 
 
 5.00 
 
 171 
 
 9.250 
 
 146.075 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 24.40 
 
 9.30 
 
 172 
 
 9.310 
 
 146.088 
 
 
 
 .85 
 
 .50 
 
 
 
 24.50 
 
 13.30 
 
 173 
 
 9.480 
 
 146.115 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 
 
 
 8.78 
 NC 
 
 1.30 
 0.25 
 
 1.00 
 0.25 
 
 0.21 
 0.05 
 
 0.05 
 0.01 
 
 27.85 
 2.63 
 
 7.13 
 
 
 Standard deviation. . . . 
 
 2.57 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 139 
 
 139 
 
 15 
 
 9 
 
 139 
 
 136 
 
 NC Not calculated. 
 
 1 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 
47 
 
 
 TABLE E 
 
 -3. - Subarea AIII — locat 
 
 ion, abundance, and analytical data 
 
 
 Index 
 No. 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis, wt 
 
 pet, dry basis 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 174 
 
 8.542 
 
 148.932 
 
 
 
 1.38 
 
 1.28 
 
 0.17 
 
 0.05 
 
 30.70 
 
 6.30 
 
 175 
 
 8.483 
 
 149.417 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.35 
 
 .20 
 
 
 26.80 
 
 5.90 
 
 176 
 
 8.250 
 
 149.500 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 1.15 
 
 .85 
 
 .26 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 7.50 
 
 177 
 
 8.450 
 
 149.783 
 
 47.2 
 
 8.30 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 178 
 
 8.417 
 
 149.800 
 
 >50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 179 
 
 8.200 
 
 150.300 
 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 1.15 
 
 .25 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 5.50 
 
 180 
 
 8.400 
 
 150.283 
 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.25 
 
 .20 
 
 
 26.80 
 
 6.90 
 
 181 
 
 8.450 
 
 150.283 
 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.30 
 
 .20 
 
 
 27.60 
 
 6.30 
 
 182 
 
 8.483 
 
 150.317 
 
 >50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 183 
 
 8.483 
 
 150.400 
 
 .7 
 
 .20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 184 
 
 8.453 
 
 150.478 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 185 
 
 7.750 
 
 150.683 
 
 
 
 1.44 
 
 1.54 
 
 .20 
 
 
 26.67 
 
 6.17 
 
 186 
 
 8.083 
 
 150.683 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 187 
 
 7.817 
 
 150.758 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 188 
 
 8.033 
 
 150.733 
 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.40 
 
 .20 
 
 
 29.80 
 
 6.40 
 
 189 
 
 8.150 
 
 150.717 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.15 
 
 
 
 26.50 
 
 7.50 
 
 190 
 
 8.197 
 
 150.738 
 
 40.9 
 
 7.50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 191 
 
 8.475 
 
 150.742 
 
 >50 
 
 13.70 
 
 1.08 
 
 .77 
 
 .26 
 
 .04 
 
 23.93 
 
 10.08 
 
 192 
 
 8.217 
 
 150.767 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 193 
 
 8.133 
 
 150.767 
 
 <20 
 
 
 .78 
 
 .59 
 
 .42 
 
 
 20.81 
 
 13.73 
 
 194 
 
 8.250 
 
 150.800 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 195 
 
 8.458 
 
 150.778 
 
 <20 
 
 .60 
 
 1.08 
 
 .78 
 
 .25 
 
 
 24.62 
 
 10.29 
 
 196 
 
 8.503 
 
 150.797 
 
 20-50 
 
 11.50 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.23 
 
 .21 
 
 
 27.01 
 
 5.99 
 
 197 
 
 8.467 
 
 150.800 
 
 
 
 1.44 
 
 1.45 
 
 .18 
 
 
 27.33 
 
 4.92 
 
 198 
 
 8.400 
 
 150.800 
 
 2.4 
 
 .60 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 199 
 
 8.500 
 
 150.833 
 
 >50 
 
 
 .85 
 
 .70 
 
 .23 
 
 
 20.40 
 
 11.00 
 
 200 
 
 8.457 
 
 150.837 
 
 >50 
 
 12.30 
 
 1.38 
 
 1.04 
 
 .24 
 
 
 27.23 
 
 7.66 
 
 201 
 
 8.417 
 
 150.817 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.39 
 
 1.35 
 
 .21 
 
 
 27.90 
 
 6.50 
 
 202 
 
 8.417 
 
 150.900 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.42 
 
 1.63 
 
 .17 
 
 
 29.14 
 
 5.02 
 
 203 
 
 8.433 
 
 150.917 
 
 4.9 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 204 
 
 8.273 
 
 150.933 
 
 
 
 1.47 
 
 1.34 
 
 .21 
 
 .05 
 
 28.75 
 
 6.72 
 
 205 
 
 7.825 
 
 150.950 
 
 >50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6.21 
 NC 
 
 1.28 
 0.21 
 
 1.16 
 0.30 
 
 0.22 
 0.06 
 
 0.05 
 0.01 
 
 26.26 
 2.70 
 
 7.38 
 
 Standard 
 
 deviation. . . . 
 
 2.30 
 
 ■ - 
 
 
 Number of 
 
 
 9 
 
 19 
 
 19 
 
 18 
 
 3 
 
 19 
 
 19 
 
 NC Not calculated. 
 
 NOb No nodules observed in photographs or no nodules recovered in samples. 
 
 1 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 
48 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TABLE B 
 
 -4. - Subarea AIV — location, abundance, and analytical data 
 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis, wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 1 
 
 9.900 
 
 149.950 
 
 
 
 0.75 
 
 0.39 
 
 0.20 
 
 
 22.65 
 
 14.22 
 
 2 
 
 9.717 
 
 149.950 
 
 
 
 1.08 
 
 .65 
 
 .21 
 
 
 23.00 
 
 7.7CI 
 
 3 
 
 9.683 
 
 149.900 
 
 
 
 1.27 
 
 .82 
 
 .26 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 7.7S 
 
 4 
 
 9.220 
 
 149.817 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .66 
 
 .28 
 
 
 17.00 
 
 10. 1C 
 
 5 
 
 8.783 
 
 149.867 
 
 
 
 .75 
 
 .50 
 
 .30 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 11.8C 
 
 6 
 
 8.833 
 
 149.917 
 
 
 
 1.02 
 
 .65 
 
 .28 
 
 
 17.80 
 
 7.9i 
 
 7 
 
 8.718 
 
 150.235 
 
 
 10.50 
 
 .99 
 
 .69 
 
 .33 
 
 
 23.35 
 
 11.6* 
 
 8 
 
 8.685 
 
 150.252 
 
 
 5.50 
 
 .89 
 
 .54 
 
 .36 
 
 
 22.90 
 
 11.7* 
 
 9 
 
 8.690 
 
 150.250 
 
 
 21.70 
 
 .99 
 
 .58 
 
 .24 
 
 
 20.90 
 
 11.4* 
 
 10 
 
 8.695 
 
 150.312 
 
 
 11.40 
 
 .90 
 
 .62 
 
 .31 
 
 
 22.30 
 
 11.6C 
 
 11 
 
 8.730 
 
 150.312 
 
 
 19.90 
 
 .87 
 
 .64 
 
 .27 
 
 
 21.50 
 
 11.11 
 
 12 
 
 9.200 
 
 150.375 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .80 
 
 .25 
 
 
 17.00 
 
 5.0C, 
 
 13 
 
 9.333 
 
 150.583 
 
 
 
 .55 
 
 .43 
 
 .17 
 
 
 17.20 
 
 14. 0C 
 
 14 
 
 9.450 
 
 150.700 
 
 
 
 .33 
 
 .33 
 
 .80 
 
 
 4.50 
 
 9.4C 
 
 15 
 
 8.817 
 
 150.783 
 
 45.6 
 
 8.20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 9.333 
 
 150.807 
 
 
 6.20 
 
 .78 
 
 .59 
 
 .42 
 
 
 20.80 
 
 13.7: 
 
 17 
 
 9.345 
 
 150.845 
 
 
 4.70 
 
 1.54 
 
 1.10 
 
 .22 
 
 
 23.80 
 
 8.1* 
 
 18 
 
 9.400 
 
 150.832 
 
 
 6.10 
 
 1.30 
 
 .86 
 
 .24 
 
 
 21.40 
 
 10.2] 
 
 19 
 
 9.318 
 
 150.840 
 
 
 9.70 
 
 1.33 
 
 1.00 
 
 .22 
 
 
 24.90 
 
 8.8; 
 
 20 
 
 9.450 
 
 150.817 
 
 46.9 
 
 8.10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 9.423 
 
 150.845 
 
 >50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 9.327 
 
 150.845 
 
 - 
 
 .60 
 
 1.20 
 
 .83 
 
 .26 
 
 
 19.60 
 
 6.7£ 
 
 23 
 
 9.355 
 
 150.857 
 
 
 .10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24 
 
 9.317 
 
 150.863 
 
 58.0 
 
 8.80 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25 
 
 9.317 
 
 150.875 
 
 
 10.20 
 
 .86 
 
 .59 
 
 .32 
 
 
 22.30 
 
 11.4C 
 
 26 
 
 9.397 
 
 150.880 
 
 
 15.20 
 
 .82 
 
 .55 
 
 .26 
 
 
 20.90 
 
 11.1: 
 
 27 
 
 9.500 
 
 150.883 
 
 
 
 .77 
 
 .53 
 
 .25 
 
 
 15.67 
 
 8.8C 
 
 28 
 
 9.533 
 
 150.900 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29 
 
 9.517 
 
 150.950 
 
 
 
 .83 
 
 .59 
 
 .19 
 
 
 15.80 
 
 8.1f 
 
 30 
 
 9.917 
 
 150.933 
 
 
 
 .95 
 
 .70 
 
 .25 
 
 
 23.60 
 
 10.3C 
 
 31 
 
 9.883 
 
 150.950 
 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 1.00 
 
 .20 
 
 
 24.40 
 
 7.1C 
 
 241 
 
 10.000 
 
 150.000 
 
 
 
 .92 
 
 .66 
 
 .25 
 
 
 19.00 
 
 9.6C 
 
 
 
 
 
 9.18 
 
 0.96 
 
 0.67 
 
 0.28 
 
 
 20.24 
 
 9.9S 
 
 
 
 Standard 
 
 deviation. . . . 
 
 NC 
 
 0.26 
 
 0.19 
 
 0.12 
 
 
 4.19 
 
 2.3J 
 
 
 
 Number of 
 
 
 16 
 
 26 
 
 26 
 
 26 
 
 
 
 26 
 
 It 
 
 NC No 
 
 t calculat 
 
 ed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^Amoun 
 
 t of seafl 
 
 oor covered 
 
 with nodules. 
 
 
 
 
 
 NOTE.- 
 
 -Blank ind 
 
 icates no i 
 
 nformation ava 
 
 ilable. 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 49 
 
 
 TABLE 
 
 B-5. - Subarea AV — location, abundance, and analytical data 
 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance, 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis, wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 250 
 
 8.308 
 
 151.023 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 252 
 
 8.050 
 
 151.400 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.20 
 
 0.25 
 
 
 24.00 
 
 6.00 
 
 253 
 
 8.275 
 
 151.122 
 
 20-50 
 
 8.10 
 
 1.31 
 
 1.09 
 
 .24 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 7.70 
 
 254 
 
 8.302 
 
 151.158 
 
 <20 
 
 .20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 255 
 
 8.267 
 
 151.180 
 
 33.0 
 
 5.90 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 256 
 
 8.267 
 
 151.188 
 
 <20 
 
 1.70 
 
 1.61 
 
 1.64 
 
 .18 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 4.73 
 
 257 
 
 8.293 
 
 151.220 
 
 20-50 
 
 .70 
 
 1.36 
 
 1.33 
 
 .20 
 
 
 25.23 
 
 5.82 
 
 258 
 
 8.238 
 
 151.238 
 
 20-50 
 
 9.40 
 
 1.34 
 
 1.06 
 
 .22 
 
 
 27.30 
 
 8.91 
 
 259 
 
 8.475 
 
 151.152 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 260 
 
 8.467 
 
 151.150 
 
 
 
 1.19 
 
 1.05 
 
 .18 
 
 
 25.40 
 
 7.30 
 
 261 
 
 9.005 
 
 151.182 
 
 
 .10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 262 
 
 9.027 
 
 151.203 
 
 6.5 
 
 1.60 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 263 
 
 9.038 
 
 151.187 
 
 <20 
 
 1.60 
 
 1.53 
 
 1.45 
 
 .17 
 
 
 25.13 
 
 4.92 
 
 264 
 
 9.038 
 
 151.190 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 265 
 
 9.042 
 
 151.177 
 
 <20 
 
 1.60 
 
 1.62 
 
 1.56 
 
 .26 
 
 
 30.40 
 
 3.78 
 
 266 
 
 9.053 
 
 151.183 
 
 
 3.80 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 267 
 
 9.058 
 
 151.185 
 
 <20 
 
 4.90 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.31 
 
 .22 
 
 
 24.22 
 
 5.57 
 
 268 
 
 9.080 
 
 151.157 
 
 <20 
 
 .70 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 269 
 
 9.080 
 
 151.185 
 
 <20 
 
 7.60 
 
 1.72 
 
 1.55 
 
 .27 
 
 
 29.90 
 
 4.25 
 
 270 
 
 9.065 
 
 151.237 
 
 <20 
 
 3.60 
 
 1.59 
 
 1.49 
 
 .29 
 
 
 29.50 
 
 4.66 
 
 271 
 
 9.100 
 
 151.500 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.10 
 
 .25 
 
 
 19.00 
 
 5.50 
 
 272 
 
 9.033 
 
 151.567 
 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 1.06 
 
 .15 
 
 
 26.80 
 
 5.30 
 
 273 
 
 8.400 
 
 151.800 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 274 
 
 8.417 
 
 151.883 
 
 
 
 1.36 
 
 1.18 
 
 .18 
 
 
 23.30 
 
 4.81 
 
 275 
 
 9.367 
 
 151.967 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.28 
 
 .09 
 
 .17 
 
 
 25.30 
 
 4.25 
 
 276 
 
 9.450 
 
 152.017 
 
 >50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 277 
 
 9.383 
 
 152.033 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.05 
 
 .20 
 
 
 26.80 
 
 7.50 
 
 
 
 
 
 3.43 
 NC 
 
 1.41 
 0.16 
 
 1.20 
 0.36 
 
 0.21 
 0.04 
 
 
 26.20 
 2.96 
 
 5.69 
 
 
 Standard 
 
 deviation. ... 
 
 1.45 
 
 
 
 Number of 
 
 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 16 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 16 
 
 NC Not calculated. 
 
 NOb No nodules observed in photographs or no nodules recovered in samples. 
 
 NPr Nodules present, no additional information available. 
 
 1 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 
50 
 
 
 TABLE B-6. - Subarea AVI— lo 
 
 cation, abun 
 
 dance, 
 
 and analytical data 
 
 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, * 
 pet 
 
 Abundance, 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis, wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 278 
 
 8.033 
 
 152.150 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 279 
 
 7.950 
 
 152.250 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 1.10 
 
 0.25 
 
 
 22.50 
 
 7.00 
 
 280 
 
 7.970 
 
 152.287 
 
 
 
 1.24 
 
 1.08 
 
 .24 
 
 
 23.01 
 
 7.27 
 
 281 
 
 8.050 
 
 152.300 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 282 
 
 8.133 
 
 152.267 
 
 >50 
 
 
 .84 
 
 .55 
 
 .21 
 
 
 19.45 
 
 9.55 
 
 283 
 
 8.098 
 
 152.603 
 
 
 
 .96 
 
 .72 
 
 .22 
 
 
 19.86 
 
 9.24 
 
 284 
 
 7.945 
 
 152.805 
 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.32 
 
 .15 
 
 
 26.10 
 
 5.25 
 
 293 
 
 8.342 
 
 152.952 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 294 
 
 8.321 
 
 152.959 
 
 
 
 1.11 
 
 1.20 
 
 .14 
 
 0.04 
 
 26.40 
 
 5.74 
 
 295 
 
 8.314 
 
 152.961 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 296 
 
 8.326 
 
 152.967 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 297 
 
 8.305 
 
 152.964 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 1.03 
 
 .15 
 
 .04 
 
 26.40 
 
 6.47 
 
 298 
 
 8.296 
 
 152.965 
 
 
 
 1.08 
 
 .93 
 
 .18 
 
 .04 
 
 24.60 
 
 7.94 
 
 299 
 
 8.281 
 
 152.968 
 
 
 
 1.01 
 
 .99 
 
 .16 
 
 .03 
 
 22.40 
 
 6.56 
 
 300 
 
 8.272 
 
 152.970 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 1.25 
 
 .21 
 
 .04 
 
 24.41 
 
 7.79 
 
 301 
 
 8.264 
 
 152.972 
 
 
 
 1.01 
 
 .86 
 
 .20 
 
 .03 
 
 24.00 
 
 9.24 
 
 302 
 
 8.366 
 
 152.986 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 303 
 
 8.363 
 
 152.986 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 304 
 
 8.371 
 
 152.988 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 305 
 
 8.380 
 
 152.989 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 306 
 
 8.375 
 
 152.989 
 
 
 
 1.28 
 
 1.65 
 
 .13 
 
 .04 
 
 25.90 
 
 5.44 
 
 307 
 
 8.390 
 
 152.991 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 308 
 
 8.394 
 
 152.992 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 1.03 
 
 .15 
 
 .04 
 
 26.40 
 
 6.47 
 
 309 
 
 8.400 
 
 153.000 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 310 
 
 8.285 
 
 153.009 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 311 
 
 8.321 
 
 153.009 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 312 
 
 8.347 
 
 153.016 
 
 
 
 1.02 
 
 .99 
 
 .18 
 
 .03 
 
 23.30 
 
 7.49 
 
 313 
 
 8.382 
 
 153.026 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 314 
 
 8.337 
 
 153.027 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 315 
 
 8.326 
 
 153.027 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 316 
 
 8.326 
 
 153.027 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 317 
 
 8.328 
 
 153.031 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 318 
 
 8.324 
 
 153.035 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 319 
 
 8.332 
 
 153.031 
 
 
 
 1.05 
 
 1.05 
 
 .17 
 
 .04 
 
 25.70 
 
 6.37 
 
 320 
 
 8.369 
 
 153.032 
 
 
 
 .94 
 
 .90 
 
 .17 
 
 .03 
 
 22.50 
 
 7.59 
 
 321 
 
 8.319 
 
 153.037 
 
 
 
 .92 
 
 .99 
 
 .16 
 
 .04 
 
 24.40 
 
 7.28 
 
 322 
 
 8.315 
 
 153.040 
 
 
 
 1.07 
 
 1.09 
 
 .16 
 
 .04 
 
 26.60 
 
 6.93 
 
 323 
 
 8.351 
 
 153.038 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 324 
 
 8.381 
 
 153.039 
 
 
 
 1.12 
 
 1.21 
 
 .14 
 
 .04 
 
 25.90 
 
 5.98 
 
 325 
 
 8.306 
 
 153.047 
 
 
 
 1.59 
 
 1.44 
 
 .19 
 
 .03 
 
 25.30 
 
 5.77 
 
 326 
 
 8.380 
 
 153.050 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 327 
 
 8.383 
 
 153.056 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 328 
 
 8.381 
 
 153.062 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 329 
 
 8.383 
 
 153.069 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 333 
 
 7.885 
 
 153.550 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.39 
 
 .09 
 
 
 26.70 
 
 4.83 
 
 334 
 
 8.417 
 
 153.450 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 1.49 
 
 1.40 
 
 .22 
 
 
 23.40 
 
 4.59 
 
 340 
 
 8.095 
 
 153.915 
 
 
 
 1.16 
 
 1.15 
 
 .15 
 
 .05 
 
 23.90 
 
 7.75 
 
 
 
 
 
 1.13 
 
 0.20 
 
 23 
 
 1.10 
 
 0.24 
 
 23 
 
 0.17 
 
 0.04 
 
 23 
 
 0.04 
 
 0.01 
 
 16 
 
 24.31 
 
 2.05 
 
 23 
 
 6.89 
 
 
 Standard 
 Number of 
 
 
 1.36 
 
 
 
 23 
 
 NOb No nodules observed in photographs or no nodules recovered in samples, 
 NPr Nodules present, no additional information available. 
 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank, indicates no information available 
 
51 
 
 
 TABLE 
 
 B-7. - Study 
 
 area A — location, abundance, 
 
 and analytical 
 
 data outside subareas 
 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analy 
 
 sis, wt pet, dry basis 
 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 221 
 
 11.933 
 
 146.448 
 
 
 
 1.31 
 
 1.03 
 
 0.23 
 
 0.04 
 
 26.70 
 
 6.45 
 
 222 
 
 9.133 
 
 146.817 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .75 
 
 .20 
 
 
 19.60 
 
 7.00 
 
 223 
 
 9.450 
 
 147.300 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 .70 
 
 .40 
 
 .35 
 
 
 20.00 
 
 12.00 
 
 224 
 
 9.083 
 
 148.750 
 
 
 
 1.04 
 
 .75 
 
 .21 
 
 
 21.60 
 
 6.80 
 
 225 
 
 9.350 
 
 148.733 
 
 <20 
 
 22.20 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.02 
 
 .24 
 
 
 26.80 
 
 7.30 
 
 226 
 
 10.283 
 
 148.700 
 
 >50 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .86 
 
 .24 
 
 
 27.10 
 
 7.55 
 
 in 
 
 10.283 
 
 148.750 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.05 
 
 .19 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 6.50 
 
 228 
 
 7.400 
 
 149.033 
 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.30 
 
 .15 
 
 
 29.60 
 
 5.20 
 
 229 
 
 7.700 
 
 149.050 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 230 
 
 7.750 
 
 149.100 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .75 
 
 .25 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 10.20 
 
 231 
 
 8.875 
 
 149.100 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 232 
 
 9.700 
 
 149.250 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 233 
 
 9.275 
 
 149.400 
 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.25 
 
 .25 
 
 
 19.00 
 
 5.00 
 
 234 
 
 9.650 
 
 149.400 
 
 
 
 1.28 
 
 1.16 
 
 .16 
 
 
 26.10 
 
 6.10 
 
 235 
 
 9.683 
 
 149.517 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 236 
 
 10.350 
 
 149.450 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .70 
 
 .30 
 
 
 21.50 
 
 9.50 
 
 237 
 
 12.717 
 
 149.067 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .95 
 
 .30 
 
 
 24.00 
 
 8.90 
 
 242 
 
 10.633 
 
 150.033 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 .95 
 
 .60 
 
 .20 
 
 
 18.80 
 
 7.20 
 
 243 
 
 10.300 
 
 150.500 
 
 >50 
 
 
 .50 
 
 .40 
 
 .40 
 
 
 18.00 
 
 11.00 
 
 244 
 
 12.650 
 
 150.167 
 
 
 
 .58 
 
 .35 
 
 .35 
 
 
 21.07 
 
 14.43 
 
 245 
 
 12.600 
 
 150.233 
 
 >50 
 
 
 .75 
 
 .45 
 
 .40 
 
 
 22.80 
 
 14.10 
 
 246 
 
 7.567 
 
 150.700 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 247 
 
 7.450 
 
 150.767 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.42 
 
 1.68 
 
 .15 
 
 
 27.90 
 
 5.58 
 
 248 
 
 7.417 
 
 150.833 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 249 
 
 9.900 
 
 151.042 
 
 >50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 251 
 
 7.433 
 
 151.783 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.39 
 
 .15 
 
 
 25.73 
 
 4.60 
 
 285 
 
 8.663 
 
 152.630 
 
 
 .62 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 286 
 
 8.663 
 
 152.630 
 
 
 .12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 287 
 
 8.663 
 
 152.630 
 
 
 .25 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 288 
 
 8.950 
 
 152.867 
 
 
 
 .66 
 
 .61 
 
 .22 
 
 
 17.02 
 
 8.84 
 
 289 
 
 8.950 
 
 152.867 
 
 
 
 1.33 
 
 .41 
 
 .78 
 
 
 22.61 
 
 10.94 
 
 290 
 
 9.983 
 
 152.950 
 
 
 5.62 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 291 
 
 9.983 
 
 152.950 
 
 
 6.25 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 292 
 
 9.983 
 
 152.950 
 
 
 
 1.53 
 
 1.11 
 
 
 
 29.40 
 
 6.52 
 
 330 
 
 8.933 
 
 153.083 
 
 <20 
 
 
 .95 
 
 .80 
 
 .20 
 
 
 24.50 
 
 8.50 
 
 331 
 
 9.900 
 
 153.117 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 332 
 
 7.350 
 
 153.200 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 335 
 
 9.700 
 
 153.550 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .60 
 
 .35 
 
 
 23.00 
 
 13.80 
 
 336 
 
 9.733 
 
 153.550 
 
 <20 
 
 
 .67 
 
 .39 
 
 .34 
 
 
 24.10 
 
 15.90 
 
 337 
 
 9.733 
 
 153.600 
 
 >50 
 
 
 .84 
 
 .52 
 
 .34 
 
 
 21.40 
 
 12.64 
 
 338 
 
 9.717 
 
 153.617 
 
 >50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 339 
 
 9.617 
 
 153.697 
 
 
 
 1.37 
 
 1.59 
 
 .13 
 
 
 25.45 
 
 5.76 
 
 341 
 
 11.367 
 
 153.617 
 
 
 .25 
 
 1.33 
 
 1.12 
 
 .12 
 
 
 20.20 
 
 5.00 
 
 342 
 
 11.367 
 
 153.617 
 
 
 .25 
 
 1.33 
 
 1.14 
 
 .14 
 
 
 21.80 
 
 5.10 
 
 343 
 
 11.367 
 
 153.617 
 
 
 1.88 
 
 1.38 
 
 1.22 
 
 .14 
 
 
 25.30 
 
 5.85 
 
 344 
 
 10.935 
 
 153.307 
 
 >50 
 
 22.20 
 
 .52 
 
 .26 
 
 .24 
 
 
 19.80 
 
 12.51 
 
 345 
 
 11.010 
 
 153.333 
 
 <20 
 
 .40 
 
 1.16 
 
 1.02 
 
 .16 
 
 
 23.90 
 
 5.86 
 
 346 
 
 10.968 
 
 153.418 
 
 <20 
 
 4.00 
 
 1.31 
 
 1.08 
 
 .15 
 
 
 25.20 
 
 5.60 
 
 347 
 
 11.007 
 
 153.435 
 
 <20 
 
 1.80 
 
 1.15 
 
 1.08 
 
 .10 
 
 
 25.60 
 
 5.75 
 
 348 
 
 10.947 
 
 153.445 
 
 >50 
 
 10.80 
 
 .75 
 
 .44 
 
 .24 
 
 
 19.10 
 
 11.10 
 
 349 
 
 11.005 
 
 153.470 
 
 20-50 
 
 8.00 
 
 .90 
 
 .45 
 
 .22 
 
 
 18.80 
 
 8.56 
 
 350 
 
 11.013 
 
 153.478 
 
 20-50 
 
 7.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 351 
 
 10.977 
 
 153.477 
 
 20-50 
 
 12.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 352 
 
 10.993 
 
 153.480 
 
 20-50 
 
 6.40 
 
 .73 
 
 .49 
 
 .15 
 
 
 19.00 
 
 9.72 
 
 353 
 
 10.860 
 
 153.497 
 
 >50 
 
 14.00 
 
 .78 
 
 .50 
 
 .26 
 
 
 19.60 
 
 11.94 
 
 354 
 
 11.110 
 
 153.522 
 
 
 1.80 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5.45 
 NC 
 
 1.07 
 0.30 
 
 0.83 
 0.37 
 
 0.24 
 0.12 
 
 0.04 
 NC 
 
 22.95 
 3.41 
 
 8.56 
 
 
 Standard d 
 
 
 3.15 
 
 
 
 Number of 
 
 
 19 
 
 38 
 
 38 
 
 37 
 
 1 
 
 38 
 
 38 
 
 NC Not calculated. 
 NPr Nodules present, 
 1 Amount of seafloor 
 
 NOb No nodules observed 
 no additional information 
 covered with nodules. 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available 
 
 in photographs 
 available. 
 
 or no nodules recovered in samples , 
 
52 
 
 
 
 TABLE B-8. 
 
 - Subarea BI — location, abundance, and analytical data 
 
 
 
 'Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance, 
 kg/m2 
 
 Analysis, wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Nl 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 523 
 
 13.922 
 
 139.772 
 
 
 
 1.26 
 
 1.26 
 
 0.21 
 
 
 30.00 
 
 6.45 
 
 524 
 
 13.928 
 
 139.780 
 
 
 
 1.31 
 
 1.39 
 
 .19 
 
 
 27.50 
 
 3.95 
 
 525 
 
 13.767 
 
 140.017 
 
 
 
 1.16 
 
 .94 
 
 .14 
 
 
 23.15 
 
 6.65 
 
 526 
 
 13.750 
 
 140.050 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .85 
 
 .21 
 
 
 19.73 
 
 5.40 
 
 527 
 
 13.887 
 
 140.057 
 
 
 
 1.42 
 
 1.32 
 
 .22 
 
 
 30.40 
 
 4.20 
 
 528 
 
 13.667 
 
 140.067 
 
 
 
 1.07 
 
 .77 
 
 .24 
 
 
 22.20 
 
 7.37 
 
 529 
 
 13.733 
 
 140.083 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .73 
 
 .24 
 
 
 17.00 
 
 7.80 
 
 530 
 
 13.717 
 
 140.100 
 
 
 
 .97 
 
 .68 
 
 .21 
 
 
 16.80 
 
 6.30 
 
 531 
 
 13.717 
 
 140.133 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .64 
 
 .16 
 
 
 15.30 
 
 4.60 
 
 532 
 
 13.700 
 
 140.150 
 
 
 
 1.32 
 
 .90 
 
 .44 
 
 
 27.70 
 
 5.77 
 
 533 
 
 13.700 
 
 140.167 
 
 
 
 1.31 
 
 1.17 
 
 .17 
 
 
 26.80 
 
 5.60 
 
 534 
 
 13.700 
 
 140.200 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.22 
 
 .20 
 
 
 29.90 
 
 5.50 
 
 535 
 
 13.683 
 
 140.233 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.22 
 
 .19 
 
 
 28.50 
 
 5.00 
 
 536 
 
 13.683 
 
 140.283 
 
 
 
 1.36 
 
 1.00 
 
 .43 
 
 
 36.40 
 
 5.17 
 
 537 
 
 13.683 
 
 140.333 
 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.08 
 
 .41 
 
 
 28.90 
 
 5.10 
 
 538 
 
 13.683 
 
 140.333 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.14 
 
 .14 
 
 
 20.80 
 
 6.40 
 
 539 
 
 13.683 
 
 140.383 
 
 
 
 1.63 
 
 1.55 
 
 .10 
 
 
 31.70 
 
 4.96 
 
 540 
 
 13.667 
 
 140.433 
 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.46 
 
 .10 
 
 
 31.00 
 
 4.58 
 
 541 
 
 13.650 
 
 140.450 
 
 
 
 .88 
 
 .80 
 
 .23 
 
 
 20.20 
 
 5.30 
 
 542 
 
 13.650 
 
 140.467 
 
 
 
 1.07 
 
 .79 
 
 .44 
 
 
 26.30 
 
 5.79 
 
 543 
 
 13.647 
 
 140.470 
 
 
 
 1.09 
 
 1.06 
 
 .21 
 
 
 22.90 
 
 4.93 
 
 544 
 
 13.617 
 
 140.500 
 
 
 
 .86 
 
 .56 
 
 .14 
 
 
 18.20 
 
 7.20 
 
 545 
 
 13.633 
 
 140.500 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.20 
 
 .22 
 
 
 29.60 
 
 5.11 
 
 546 
 
 13.617 
 
 140.517 
 
 
 
 .32 
 
 .24 
 
 .14 
 
 
 7.50 
 
 5.20 
 
 547 
 
 13.617 
 
 140.533 
 
 
 
 1.37 
 
 1.10 
 
 .23 
 
 
 23.80 
 
 5.00 
 
 548 
 
 13.600 
 
 140.550 
 
 
 
 .88 
 
 .60 
 
 .24 
 
 
 18.10 
 
 10.70 
 
 549 
 
 13.617 
 
 140.550 
 
 
 
 .77 
 
 .62 
 
 .15 
 
 
 15.80 
 
 6.50 
 
 550 
 
 13.600 
 
 140.567 
 
 
 
 .86 
 
 .71 
 
 .20 
 
 
 15.50 
 
 5.80 
 
 551 
 
 13.600 
 
 140.583 
 
 
 
 1.16 
 
 .86 
 
 .20 
 
 
 23.60 
 
 6.30 
 
 552 
 
 13.583 
 
 140.600 
 
 
 
 1.02 
 
 .76 
 
 .16 
 
 
 16.30 
 
 4.80 
 
 553 
 
 13.583 
 
 140.617 
 
 
 
 .77 
 
 .45 
 
 .24 
 
 
 19.90 
 
 4.84 
 
 554 
 
 13.567 
 
 140.617 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.02 
 
 .23 
 
 
 27.60 
 
 6.50 
 
 555 
 
 13.583 
 
 140.617 
 
 ' 
 
 
 1.16 
 
 .88 
 
 .18 
 
 
 21.40 
 
 7.80 
 
 556 
 
 13.569 
 
 140.633 
 
 
 
 .89 
 
 .48 
 
 .52 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 9.24 
 
 557 
 
 13.567 
 
 140.633 
 
 
 
 1.02 
 
 .77 
 
 .22 
 
 
 21.10 
 
 7.60 
 
 558 
 
 13.567 
 
 140.650 
 
 
 
 1.58 
 
 1.08 
 
 .18 
 
 
 20.80 
 
 9.20 
 
 559 
 
 13.550 
 
 140.667 
 
 
 
 1.21 
 
 .74 
 
 .43 
 
 
 25.70 
 
 5.58 
 
 560 
 
 13.550 
 
 140.667 
 
 
 
 1.02 
 
 .82 
 
 .23 
 
 
 20.20 
 
 5.40 
 
 561 
 
 13.550 
 
 140.683 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.08 
 
 .12 
 
 
 25.70 
 
 5.16 
 
 562 
 
 13.550 
 
 140.683 
 
 
 
 1.04 
 
 .56 
 
 .44 
 
 
 23.60 
 
 6.98 
 
 563 
 
 13.517 
 
 140.717 
 
 
 
 .97 
 
 .83 
 
 .16 
 
 
 19.20 
 
 5.90 
 
 564 
 
 13.533 
 
 140.717 
 
 
 
 1.24 
 
 .89 
 
 .16 
 
 
 21.30 
 
 5.45 
 
 565 
 
 13.500 
 
 140.717 
 
 
 
 1.02 
 
 .64 
 
 .18 
 
 
 14.60 
 
 5.30 
 
 566 
 
 13.567 
 
 140.717 
 
 
 
 1.06 
 
 .87 
 
 .24 
 
 
 19.10 
 
 5.60 
 
 567 
 
 13.483 
 
 140.733 
 
 
 
 .92 
 
 .58 
 
 .18 
 
 
 14.30 
 
 5.20 
 
 568 
 
 13.467 
 
 140.733 
 
 
 
 .94 
 
 .61 
 
 .21 
 
 
 19.40 
 
 6.75 
 
 569 
 
 13.400 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 .94 
 
 .64 
 
 .28 
 
 
 18.30 
 
 7.40 
 
 570 
 
 13.433 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .64 
 
 .18 
 
 
 18.40 
 
 7.50 
 
 571 
 
 13.417 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 .95 
 
 .72 
 
 .22 
 
 
 18.10 
 
 6.10 
 
 572 
 
 13.400 
 
 140.767 
 
 
 
 .97 
 
 .63 
 
 .27 
 
 
 18.50 
 
 9.90 
 
 573 
 
 13.483 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 1.04 
 
 .49 
 
 .46 
 
 
 22.80 
 
 6.63 
 
 574 
 
 13.450 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 .90 
 
 .52 
 
 .22 
 
 
 19.20 
 
 6.29 
 
 575 
 
 13.450 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 .86 
 
 .61 
 
 .23 
 
 
 16.40 
 
 6.00 
 
 576 
 
 13.483 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 1.33 
 
 .95 
 
 .24 
 
 
 24.20 
 
 6.00 
 
 577 
 
 13.467 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 1.07 
 
 .81 
 
 .21 
 
 
 22.10 
 
 5.35 
 
 578 
 
 13.467 
 
 140.750 
 
 
 
 .67 
 
 .52 
 
 .13 
 
 
 12.90 
 
 5.50 
 
 579 
 
 13.233 
 
 140.833 
 
 
 
 .61 
 
 .29 
 
 .42 
 
 
 27.60 
 
 5.11 
 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 0.25 
 
 57 
 
 0.84 
 
 0.29 
 
 57 
 
 0.23 
 
 0.10 
 
 57 
 
 
 22.03 
 
 5.54 
 
 57 
 
 6.09 
 
 
 Standard d 
 Number of 
 
 
 1.38 
 
 
 
 56 
 
 'Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 
53 
 
 
 TABLE 
 
 B-9. - Subarea BII — location, abundance, 
 
 and analyti 
 
 .cal data 
 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis 
 
 , wt pet , dry bas 
 
 is 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 580 
 
 13.160 
 
 141.008 
 
 
 
 0.57 
 
 0.39 
 
 0.20 
 
 
 22.65 
 
 12.70 
 
 581 
 
 13.003 
 
 141.213 
 
 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.20 
 
 .26 
 
 
 28.80 
 
 4.75 
 
 582 
 
 12.850 
 
 141.583 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .73 
 
 .12 
 
 
 16.80 
 
 5.80 
 
 583 
 
 12.833 
 
 141.583 
 
 
 
 .92 
 
 .51 
 
 .30 
 
 
 20.90 
 
 8.38 
 
 584 
 
 12.850 
 
 141.617 
 
 
 
 .94 
 
 .64 
 
 .28 
 
 
 17.90 
 
 7.40 
 
 585 
 
 12.850 
 
 141.617 
 
 
 
 1.12 
 
 .83 
 
 .24 
 
 
 
 6.61 
 
 586 
 
 12.833 
 
 141.617 
 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 .96 
 
 .21 
 
 
 23.80 
 
 5.40 
 
 587 
 
 12.817 
 
 141.633 
 
 
 
 1.36 
 
 1.07 
 
 .20 
 
 
 27.80 
 
 4.96 
 
 588 
 
 12.817 
 
 141.667 
 
 
 
 1.33 
 
 1.05 
 
 .38 
 
 
 28.70 
 
 5.60 
 
 589 
 
 12.817 
 
 141.667 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.11 
 
 .22 
 
 
 30.50 
 
 4.84 
 
 590 
 
 12.817 
 
 141.683 
 
 
 
 1.51 
 
 1.16 
 
 .23 
 
 
 32.00 
 
 5.50 
 
 591 
 
 12.800 
 
 141.700 
 
 
 
 1.39 
 
 1.17 
 
 .21 
 
 
 30.20 
 
 4.80 
 
 592 
 
 12.800 
 
 141.717 
 
 
 
 1.63 
 
 1.29 
 
 .18 
 
 
 24.80 
 
 7.70 
 
 593 
 
 12.800 
 
 141.717 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.08 
 
 .19 
 
 
 30.70 
 
 4.19 
 
 594 
 
 12.783 
 
 141.733 
 
 
 
 1.14 
 
 .91 
 
 .26 
 
 
 23.40 
 
 5.40 
 
 595 
 
 12.783 
 
 141.733 
 
 
 
 1.39 
 
 1.06 
 
 .20 
 
 
 30.50 
 
 4.68 
 
 596 
 
 12.767 
 
 141.750 
 
 
 
 .88 
 
 .57 
 
 .18 
 
 
 18.80 
 
 6.35 
 
 597 
 
 12.767 
 
 141.750 
 
 
 
 1.39 
 
 1.22 
 
 .19 
 
 
 29.20 
 
 6.16 
 
 598 
 
 12.767 
 
 141.767 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 .79 
 
 .16 
 
 
 23.60 
 
 6.80 
 
 599 
 
 12.750 
 
 141.783 
 
 
 
 1.24 
 
 .92 
 
 .25 
 
 
 22.60 
 
 5.70 
 
 600 
 
 12.683 
 
 141.783 
 
 
 
 1.03 
 
 .78 
 
 .24 
 
 
 19.80 
 
 5.90 
 
 601 
 
 12.733 
 
 141.800 
 
 
 
 .97 
 
 .69 
 
 .24 
 
 
 18.90 
 
 11.90 
 
 602 
 
 12.733 
 
 141.817 
 
 
 
 1.32 
 
 1.07 
 
 .14 
 
 
 24.70 
 
 5.96 
 
 603 
 
 12.717 
 
 141.842 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.26 
 
 .13 
 
 
 29.10 
 
 6.24 
 
 604 
 
 12.717 
 
 141.850 
 
 
 
 .84 
 
 .71 
 
 .29 
 
 
 18.50 
 
 5.50 
 
 605 
 
 12.717 
 
 141.850 
 
 
 
 1.37 
 
 1.35 
 
 .20 
 
 
 21.50 
 
 4.70 
 
 606 
 
 12.700 
 
 141.883 
 
 
 
 1.23 
 
 .95 
 
 .22 
 
 
 21.80 
 
 5.50 
 
 607 
 
 12.667 
 
 141.900 
 
 
 
 1.18 
 
 .72 
 
 .22 
 
 
 24.30 
 
 5.82 
 
 608 
 
 12.667 
 
 141.917 
 
 
 
 .86 
 
 .61 
 
 .24 
 
 
 14.90 
 
 4.80 
 
 609 
 
 12.667 
 
 141.933 
 
 
 
 1.21 
 
 .92 
 
 .27 
 
 
 25.20 
 
 8.10 
 
 610 
 
 12.650 
 
 141.950 
 
 
 
 1.18 
 
 .95 
 
 .23 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 6.20 
 
 611 
 
 12.633 
 
 141.967 
 
 
 
 .93 
 
 .52 
 
 .27 
 
 
 19.40 
 
 9.30 
 
 612 
 
 12.633 
 
 142.000 
 
 
 
 1.48 
 
 1.33 
 
 .12 
 
 
 30.60 
 
 5.22 
 
 613 
 
 12.617 
 
 142.017 
 
 
 
 .98 
 
 .71 
 
 .22 
 
 
 18.20 
 
 5.40 
 
 614 
 
 12.600 
 
 142.058 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.05 
 
 .09 
 
 
 26.40 
 
 6.60 
 
 615 
 
 12.600 
 
 142.067 
 
 
 
 1.02 
 
 .81 
 
 .25 
 
 
 20.40 
 
 5.80 
 
 616 
 
 12.667 
 
 142.068 
 
 
 
 .83 
 
 .58 
 
 .25 
 
 
 23.80 
 
 6.30 
 
 617 
 
 12.583 
 
 142.150 
 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 1.21 
 
 .21 
 
 0.06 
 
 31.30 
 
 4.91 
 
 
 
 
 1.18 
 
 0.24 
 
 38 
 
 0.92 
 
 0.26 
 
 38 
 
 0.23 
 
 0.07 
 
 38 
 
 0.06 
 
 NC 
 
 1 
 
 24.28 
 
 4.76 
 
 37 
 
 6.26 
 
 
 Standard 
 Number o 
 
 
 1.82 
 
 
 
 38 
 
 NC Not calculated. 
 
 1 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available, 
 
54 
 
 TABLE B-10. - Subarea Bill — location, abundance, and analytical data 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, * 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysi 
 
 s, wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 404 
 
 10.000 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 
 1.34 
 
 1.16 
 
 0.24 
 
 0.06 
 
 29.90 
 
 5.50 
 
 407 
 
 11.810 
 
 137.405 
 
 >50 
 
 16.00 
 
 1.68 
 
 1.25 
 
 .23 
 
 
 29.20 
 
 4.29 
 
 408 
 
 11.847 
 
 137.445 
 
 >50 
 
 10.00 
 
 1.66 
 
 1.20 
 
 .25 
 
 
 29.50 
 
 4.68 
 
 409 
 
 11.803 
 
 137.438 
 
 >50 
 
 16.30 
 
 1.66 
 
 1.20 
 
 .24 
 
 
 29.10 
 
 4.59 
 
 410 
 
 11.810 
 
 137.472 
 
 <20 
 
 .80 
 
 1.63 
 
 1.47 
 
 .20 
 
 
 29.20 
 
 3.57 
 
 411 
 
 12.183 
 
 137.683 
 
 
 11.30 
 
 1.54 
 
 1.24 
 
 .22 
 
 
 29.40 
 
 5.23 
 
 412 
 
 12.160 
 
 137.707 
 
 >50 
 
 15.60 
 
 1.56 
 
 1.20 
 
 .21 
 
 
 27.30 
 
 4.74 
 
 413 
 
 12.173 
 
 137.735 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 1.60 
 
 1.40 
 
 .30 
 
 
 26.90 
 
 4.64 
 
 414 
 
 12.200 
 
 137.745 
 
 <20 
 
 .20 
 
 1.57 
 
 1.44 
 
 .18 
 
 
 26.30 
 
 3.79 
 
 415 
 
 12.148 
 
 137.743 
 
 >50 
 
 18.70 
 
 1.65 
 
 1.21 
 
 .22 
 
 
 29.10 
 
 5.03 
 
 416 
 
 12.142 
 
 137.767 
 
 <20 
 
 2.60 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.36 
 
 .20 
 
 
 26.50 
 
 4.93 
 
 417 
 
 11.738 
 
 138.353 
 
 <20 
 
 .05 
 
 1.51 
 
 1.45 
 
 
 
 28.50 
 
 3.76 
 
 418 
 
 11.732 
 
 138.370 
 
 <20 
 
 4.00 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.50 
 
 .23 
 
 
 27.40 
 
 5.04 
 
 419 
 
 11.722 
 
 138.373 
 
 <20 
 
 .04 
 
 1.70 
 
 1.81 
 
 
 
 27.50 
 
 4.53 
 
 420 
 
 11.272 
 
 139.070 
 
 <20 
 
 1.90 
 
 1.61 
 
 1.20 
 
 .20 
 
 
 30.20 
 
 4.51 
 
 421 
 
 11.248 
 
 139.090 
 
 <20 
 
 .09 
 
 1.29 
 
 1.50 
 
 
 
 29.40 
 
 3.59 
 
 422 
 
 11.228 
 
 139.165 
 
 <20 
 
 .03 
 
 1.27 
 
 1.45 
 
 
 
 28.10 
 
 3.73 
 
 423 
 
 11.608 
 
 139.128 
 
 <20 
 
 4.50 
 
 .91 
 
 1.53 
 
 
 
 21.60 
 
 4.82 
 
 424 
 
 11.728 
 
 139.137 
 
 <20 
 
 .04 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.48 
 
 
 
 28.60 
 
 3.68 
 
 425 
 
 11.718 
 
 139.148 
 
 <20 
 
 .03 
 
 1.32 
 
 1.46 
 
 
 
 26.60 
 
 3.33 
 
 426 
 
 11.707 
 
 139.180 
 
 20-50 
 
 9.50 
 
 1.44 
 
 1.14 
 
 .18 
 
 
 28.60 
 
 4.90 
 
 427 
 
 11.693 
 
 139.183 
 
 20-50 
 
 .90 
 
 1.91 
 
 1.54 
 
 .20 
 
 
 27.80 
 
 4.32 
 
 428 
 
 10.750 
 
 139.400 
 
 
 
 1.36 
 
 .68 
 
 .30 
 
 
 20.80 
 
 7.40 
 
 429 
 
 10.672 
 
 139.953 
 
 
 
 1.55 
 
 1.26 
 
 .23 
 
 
 30.70 
 
 5.22 
 
 430 
 
 12.145 
 
 137.757 
 
 37.1 
 
 9.04 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 431 
 
 11.257 
 
 139.015 
 
 
 2.34 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 432 
 
 11.247 
 
 139.068 
 
 <20 
 
 3.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 433 
 
 10.650 
 
 139.100 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 434 
 
 10.600 
 
 139.425 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 435 
 
 11.703 
 
 138.390 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 436 
 
 11.675 
 
 138.432 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 437 
 
 11.258 
 
 139.055 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 438 
 
 11.008 
 
 139.988 
 
 
 15.00 
 
 1.74 
 
 1.25 
 
 
 
 32.10 
 
 3.31 
 
 439 
 
 11.017 
 
 139.967 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.13 
 
 .73 
 
 .24 
 
 
 22.10 
 
 7.50 
 
 440 
 
 11.057 
 
 139.997 
 
 
 
 1.58 
 
 1.10 
 
 .18 
 
 
 30.10 
 
 5.20 
 
 441 
 
 11.067 
 
 139.997 
 
 <20 
 
 5.35 
 
 1.52 
 
 1.40 
 
 .24 
 
 
 28.30 
 
 4.40 
 
 442 
 
 11.067 
 
 139.998 
 
 <20 
 
 3.95 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 443 
 
 11.083 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 5.62 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.29 
 
 
 
 27.40 
 
 3.23 
 
 444 
 
 11.117 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 
 1.52 
 
 1.40 
 
 .24 
 
 
 28.70 
 
 4.90 
 
 445 
 
 11.048 
 
 140.047 
 
 <20 
 
 .20 
 
 1.71 
 
 1.49 
 
 .19 
 
 
 30.80 
 
 4.00 
 
 446 
 
 11.048 
 
 140.045 
 
 <20 
 
 .31 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 447 
 
 11.012 
 
 140.067 
 
 
 
 1.37 
 
 1.25 
 
 .21 
 
 
 24.70 
 
 4.30 
 
 448 
 
 11.043 
 
 140.070 
 
 
 
 1.19 
 
 .86 
 
 .30 
 
 
 21.50 
 
 6.08 
 
 449 
 
 11.037 
 
 140.078 
 
 
 
 1.35 
 
 1.11 
 
 .27 
 
 
 28.40 
 
 5.85 
 
 450 
 
 11.012 
 
 140.080 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.29 
 
 .19 
 
 
 29.40 
 
 4.50 
 
 451 
 
 11.095 
 
 140.082 
 
 
 4.32 
 
 1.72 
 
 1.34 
 
 .25 
 
 
 33.30 
 
 4.75 
 
 452 
 
 11.093 
 
 140.082 
 
 
 .73 
 
 1.85 
 
 1.36 
 
 .29 
 
 
 30.70 
 
 4.60 
 
 453 
 
 11.035 
 
 140.088 
 
 
 
 1.03 
 
 .96 
 
 .26 
 
 
 25.30 
 
 6.28 
 
 454 
 
 11.035 
 
 140.090 
 
 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.12 
 
 .26 
 
 
 25.90 
 
 5.88 
 
 455 
 
 11.010 
 
 140.092 
 
 <20 
 
 4.27 
 
 1.12 
 
 1.15 
 
 .17 
 
 
 22.80 
 
 6.00 
 
 See footnote at end of table. 
 
55 
 
 TABLE B-10. - Subarea Bill — location, abundance, and analytical data — Continued 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, * 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysi 
 
 s, wt pet, dry bas 
 
 is 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 456 
 
 11.008 
 
 140.092 
 
 <20 
 
 0.10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 457 
 
 11.010 
 
 140.088 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.37 
 
 0.19 
 
 
 28.00 
 
 4.20 
 
 458 
 
 11.012 
 
 140.088 
 
 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.43 
 
 .21 
 
 
 27.10 
 
 4.20 
 
 459 
 
 11.013 
 
 140.088 
 
 
 
 1.07 
 
 .98 
 
 .16 
 
 
 20.00 
 
 4.20 
 
 460 
 
 11.012 
 
 140.088 
 
 
 
 1.10 
 
 1.23 
 
 .32 
 
 
 19.20 
 
 5.10 
 
 461 
 
 10.982 
 
 140.092 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.29 
 
 .27 
 
 
 28.50 
 
 4.62 
 
 462 
 
 10.980 
 
 140.092 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.03 
 
 .34 
 
 
 26.50 
 
 6.64 
 
 463 
 
 11.010 
 
 140.095 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.28 
 
 .26 
 
 
 24.80 
 
 5.55 
 
 464 
 
 11.013 
 
 140.095 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 1.62 
 
 .48 
 
 
 21.70 
 
 6.50 
 
 465 
 
 11.008 
 
 140.095 
 
 
 
 1.44 
 
 1.25 
 
 .25 
 
 
 28.30 
 
 5.30 
 
 466 
 
 10.970 
 
 140.097 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.29 
 
 .20 
 
 
 29.30 
 
 4.55 
 
 467 
 
 10.967 
 
 140.097 
 
 
 
 1.63 
 
 1.42 
 
 .19 
 
 
 28.80 
 
 3.83 
 
 468 
 
 11.025 
 
 140.102 
 
 <20 
 
 .62 
 
 1.49 
 
 1.50 
 
 .21 
 
 
 30.80 
 
 4.30 
 
 469 
 
 11.013 
 
 140.105 
 
 
 
 1.56 
 
 1.17 
 
 .26 
 
 
 27.50 
 
 5.43 
 
 470 
 
 11.017 
 
 140.115 
 
 
 
 1.49 
 
 1.12 
 
 .30 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 5.95 
 
 471 
 
 11.015 
 
 140.118 
 
 
 
 1.59 
 
 1.29 
 
 .21 
 
 
 27.70 
 
 4.72 
 
 472 
 
 11.015 
 
 140.118 
 
 
 
 1.55 
 
 1.23 
 
 .29 
 
 
 28.60 
 
 5.34 
 
 473 
 
 10.927 
 
 140.135 
 
 
 
 1.64 
 
 1.29 
 
 .22 
 
 
 28.80 
 
 4.87 
 
 474 
 
 10.927 
 
 140.135 
 
 
 
 1.75 
 
 1.33 
 
 .27 
 
 
 29.60 
 
 5.40 
 
 475 
 
 10.965 
 
 140.148 
 
 
 
 1.63 
 
 1.26 
 
 .25 
 
 
 28.80 
 
 5.19 
 
 476 
 
 10.950 
 
 140.158 
 
 
 
 1.03 
 
 .63 
 
 .50 
 
 
 23.40 
 
 10.45 
 
 477 
 
 10.990 
 
 140.182 
 
 <20 
 
 .77 
 
 1.87 
 
 1.22 
 
 .36 
 
 
 30.60 
 
 5.75 
 
 479 
 
 10.990 
 
 140.193 
 
 20-50 
 
 5.17 
 
 1.63 
 
 .97 
 
 .38 
 
 
 27.80 
 
 7.70 
 
 480 
 
 10.990 
 
 140.193 
 
 20-50 
 
 5.61 
 
 1.55 
 
 .91 
 
 .38 
 
 
 26.50 
 
 7.64 
 
 481 
 
 11.073 
 
 139.982 
 
 
 9.09 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 482 
 
 11.050 
 
 139.983 
 
 
 6.87 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 483 
 
 11.010 
 
 139.990 
 
 
 5.62 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 484 
 
 11.073 
 
 139.992 
 
 
 4.65 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 485 
 
 11.053 
 
 139.992 
 
 
 9.27 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 486 
 
 11.023 
 
 139.998 
 
 
 2.24 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 487 
 
 11.093 
 
 139.995 
 
 
 5.81 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 488 
 
 11.047 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 2.17 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 489 
 
 11.067 
 
 140.000 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 490 
 
 11.050 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 4.25 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 491 
 
 11.050 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 12.12 
 
 1.47 
 
 1.37 
 
 .16 
 
 
 30.30 
 
 4.00 
 
 492 
 
 11.023 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 2.20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 493 
 
 10.950 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 6.37 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 494 
 
 10.917 
 
 140.000 
 
 
 .12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 495 
 
 11.100 
 
 140.017 
 
 
 2.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 496 
 
 11.100 
 
 140.017 
 
 
 .60 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.40 
 
 .17 
 
 
 26.40 
 
 4.70 
 
 497 
 
 11.100 
 
 140.017 
 
 
 1.12 
 
 1.35 
 
 .93 
 
 
 
 22.90 
 
 9.95 
 
 498 
 
 11.067 
 
 140.017 
 
 
 12.75 
 
 1.44 
 
 1.07 
 
 .20 
 
 
 30.20 
 
 5.00 
 
 499 
 
 11.075 
 
 140.002 
 
 
 4.30 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 500 
 
 11.065 
 
 140.002 
 
 
 4.90 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 501 
 
 11.055 
 
 140.002 
 
 
 3.70 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 502 
 
 11.040 
 
 140.003 
 
 
 4.80 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 503 
 
 11.022 
 
 140.004 
 
 
 6.40 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 504 
 
 11.028 
 
 140.004 
 
 
 3.90 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 505 
 
 11.043 
 
 140.012 
 
 
 5.20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 506 
 
 11.042 
 
 140.022 
 
 
 7.30 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 See footnote at end of table. 
 
56 
 
 TABLE B-10. - Subarea Bill — location, abundance, and analytical data — Continued 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis, wt 
 
 pet, 
 
 dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 507 
 
 11.044 
 
 140.038 
 
 
 6.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 508 
 
 11.047 
 
 140.060 
 
 
 6.20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 509 
 
 11.018 
 
 140.083 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 510 
 
 11.035 
 
 140.116 
 
 
 4.50 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 511 
 
 11.034 
 
 140.146 
 
 
 8.10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 512 
 
 10.983 
 
 140.163 
 
 
 6.90 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 513 
 
 9.217 
 
 139.700 
 
 
 
 1.28 
 
 .98 
 
 0.20 
 
 
 22.70 
 
 5.40 
 
 514 
 
 9.100 
 
 139.750 
 
 
 
 1.32 
 
 1.14 
 
 .38 
 
 
 22.80 
 
 6.65 
 
 515 
 
 8.850 
 
 139.833 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.35 
 
 .25 
 
 
 28.90 
 
 5.42 
 
 516 
 
 9.000 
 
 139.850 
 
 
 
 1.36 
 
 1.17 
 
 .21 
 
 
 29.80 
 
 4.50 
 
 517 
 
 8.783 
 
 139.883 
 
 
 
 1.28 
 
 1.32 
 
 .20 
 
 
 
 11.60 
 
 518 
 
 8.783 
 
 139.883 
 
 
 
 .94 
 
 .94 
 
 .26 
 
 
 16.80 
 
 6.70 
 
 519 
 
 8.950 
 
 139.883 
 
 
 
 1.47 
 
 1.46 
 
 .20 
 
 0.07 
 
 22.90 
 
 5.04 
 
 520 
 
 8.833 
 
 140.300 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .45 
 
 .12 
 
 
 30.10 
 
 1.78 
 
 
 
 
 5.27 
 NC 
 
 1.45 
 0.21 
 
 1.24 
 0.22 
 
 0.25 
 0.07 
 
 0.07 
 NC 
 
 27.20 
 2.98 
 
 5.18 
 
 
 Standard deviation.... 
 
 1.37 
 
 
 
 
 74 
 
 75 
 
 75 
 
 75 
 
 1 
 
 74 
 
 75 
 
 NC Not calculated. 
 
 NOb No nodules observed in photographs or no nodules recovered in samples. 
 
 1 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 
 TABLE B-ll. - Study area B — location, abundance, and analytical data outside subareas 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysi 
 
 s , wt 
 
 pet, 
 
 dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 400 
 
 8.983 
 
 137.683 
 
 
 
 0.11 
 
 0.11 
 
 0.05 
 
 
 2.50 
 
 8.20 
 
 401 
 
 9.950 
 
 137.783 
 
 
 
 1.54 
 
 1.15 
 
 .19 
 
 0.08 
 
 33.00 
 
 4.08 
 
 402 
 
 9.943 
 
 137.802 
 
 
 
 1.54 
 
 1.15 
 
 .18 
 
 .08 
 
 24.24 
 
 4.97 
 
 403 
 
 8.350 
 
 138.783 
 
 
 
 .62 
 
 .47 
 
 .14 
 
 
 
 
 405 
 
 13.667 
 
 137.500 
 
 
 2.93 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 406 
 
 11.717 
 
 142.800 
 
 
 4.30 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 521 
 
 13.033 
 
 139.083 
 
 
 
 1.73 
 
 1.51 
 
 .38 
 
 
 28.90 
 
 
 522 
 
 13.033 
 
 139.083 
 
 
 
 1.24 
 
 1.09 
 
 .34 
 
 
 24.30 
 
 6.50 
 
 618 
 
 12.283 
 
 140.430 
 
 
 
 1.56 
 
 1.22 
 
 .19 
 
 
 29.90 
 
 4.43 
 
 619 
 
 10.983 
 
 142.617 
 
 
 
 1.23 
 
 .96 
 
 .31 
 
 .03 
 
 17.00 
 
 6.40 
 
 620 
 
 10.012 
 
 143.312 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 1.51 
 
 1.34 
 
 
 
 29.20 
 
 4.53 
 
 621 
 
 10.010 
 
 143.317 
 
 
 18.12 
 
 1.52 
 
 1.12 
 
 .25 
 
 
 31.80 
 
 4.60 
 
 622 
 
 10.008 
 
 143.320 
 
 
 21.25 
 
 1.49 
 
 1.07 
 
 .18 
 
 
 30.10 
 
 5.10 
 
 
 
 
 
 9.57 
 NC 
 
 1.28 
 0.49 
 
 1.02 
 0.40 
 
 0.22 
 0.10 
 
 0.06 
 0.03 
 
 25.09 
 9.22 
 
 5.42 
 
 
 Standard 
 
 deviation. . . . 
 
 1.34 
 
 
 
 Number of 
 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 NC Not calculated. 
 
 1 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 57 
 
 
 TABLE B-12. - Subarea CI — location, abundance, 
 
 and analytical data 
 
 
 Index 
 No. 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, * 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysi 
 
 s, wt 
 
 pet, dry basis 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 662 
 
 16.008 
 
 124.993 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 663 
 
 14.983 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 13.88 
 
 1.32 
 
 1.26 
 
 0.23 
 
 
 28.20 
 
 5.62 
 
 664 
 
 15.067 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 20.00 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.21 
 
 .28 
 
 0.07 
 
 28.80 
 
 6.75 
 
 665 
 
 14.967 
 
 125.017 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.17 
 
 .22 
 
 
 29.90 
 
 5.60 
 
 666 
 
 16.033 
 
 125.017 
 
 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.13 
 
 .26 
 
 .07 
 
 28.40 
 
 7.15 
 
 667 
 
 15.255 
 
 125.025 
 
 >50 
 
 13.70 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 668 
 
 14.933 
 
 125.067 
 
 
 12.50 
 
 1.38 
 
 1.05 
 
 .30 
 
 .07 
 
 28.60 
 
 7.00 
 
 669 
 
 15.033 
 
 125.067 
 
 
 15.62 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.15 
 
 .29 
 
 .07 
 
 28.20 
 
 7.05 
 
 670 
 
 15.000 
 
 125.067 
 
 
 27.75 
 
 1.42 
 
 1.19 
 
 .29 
 
 .07 
 
 27.70 
 
 7.13 
 
 671 
 
 15.067 
 
 125.083 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 680 
 
 15.110 
 
 125.932 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 681 
 
 15.230 
 
 125.943 
 
 >50 
 
 10.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 682 
 
 14.765 
 
 125.977 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 683 
 
 15.262 
 
 126.000 
 
 
 
 1.37 
 
 1.14 
 
 .26 
 
 .06 
 
 29.09 
 
 5.99 
 
 684 
 
 14.257 
 
 126.023 
 
 
 
 1.38 
 
 1.20 
 
 .26 
 
 .06 
 
 27.30 
 
 6.26 
 
 685 
 
 15.243 
 
 126.028 
 
 >50 
 
 15.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 686 
 
 15.242 
 
 126.047 
 
 >50 
 
 29.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 687 
 
 15.135 
 
 126.063 
 
 >50 
 
 17.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 688 
 
 15.242 
 
 126.065 
 
 20-50 
 
 15.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 689 
 
 15.130 
 
 126.078 
 
 >50 
 
 16.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 692 
 
 15.135 
 
 126.092 
 
 >50 
 
 13.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 693 
 
 15.140 
 
 126.105 
 
 20-50 
 
 11.00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 695 
 
 15.192 
 
 126.112 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 699 
 
 15.778 
 
 126.187 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 702 
 
 14.908 
 
 126.622 
 
 
 
 .58 
 
 .36 
 
 .15 
 
 
 14.40 
 
 11.06 
 
 703 
 
 14.045 
 
 126.663 
 
 NOb 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 704 
 
 16.012 
 
 126.772 
 
 
 
 1.20 
 
 .78 
 
 
 
 25.10 
 
 6.92 
 
 710 
 
 15.000 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 
 1.22 
 
 1.31 
 
 .15 
 
 
 29.70 
 
 5.25 
 
 711 
 
 14.967 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 
 1.38 
 
 1.27 
 
 .25 
 
 
 28.60 
 
 6.30 
 
 712 
 
 14.967 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.17 
 
 .22 
 
 
 29.90 
 
 5.60 
 
 713 
 
 15.033 
 
 125.083 
 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.33 
 
 .22 
 
 
 27.90 
 
 6.35 
 
 735 
 
 15.104 
 
 125.950 
 
 >50 
 
 11.80 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 736 
 
 15.252 
 
 125.987 
 
 20-50 
 
 4.60 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 737 
 
 15.220 
 
 125.920 
 
 >50 
 
 9.12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 738 
 
 15.241 
 
 126.040 
 
 >50 
 
 15.20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 739 
 
 15.137 
 
 126.090 
 
 >50 
 
 12.20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 740 
 
 15.231 
 
 125.974 
 
 
 4.90 
 
 1.34 
 
 1.21 
 
 .24 
 
 
 28.40 
 
 6.16 
 
 741 
 
 15.242 
 
 126.043 
 
 
 8.84 
 
 1.37 
 
 1.10 
 
 .28 
 
 
 27.50 
 
 6.68 
 
 742 
 
 15.257 
 
 125.988 
 
 
 1.79 
 
 1.36 
 
 1.31 
 
 .24 
 
 
 28.20 
 
 5.68 
 
 743 
 
 15.243 
 
 126.026 
 
 
 6.51 
 
 1.29 
 
 .83 
 
 .28 
 
 
 22.60 
 
 7.54 
 
 744 
 
 15.217 
 
 125.932 
 
 
 8.93 
 
 1.33 
 
 .95 
 
 .28 
 
 
 26.10 
 
 7.02 
 
 745 
 
 15.182 
 
 125.893 
 
 
 12.35 
 
 1.39 
 
 1.10 
 
 .36 
 
 
 28.10 
 
 6.49 
 
 746 
 
 15.205 
 
 125.868 
 
 
 9.95 
 
 1.19 
 
 .84 
 
 .31 
 
 
 26.20 
 
 8.09 
 
 747 
 
 15.207 
 
 125.953 
 
 
 8.48 
 
 1.26 
 
 .80 
 
 .30 
 
 
 26.20 
 
 8.16 
 
 748 
 
 15.188 
 
 126.025 
 
 
 
 1.34 
 
 1.02 
 
 .22 
 
 
 26.30 
 
 6.25 
 
 See footnote at end of table, 
 
58 
 
 TABLE B-12. - Subarea CI — location, abundance, and analytical data — Continued 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysi 
 
 s, wt pet, dry bas. 
 
 Ls 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 749 
 
 15.190 
 
 126.037 
 
 
 6.49 
 
 1.18 
 
 0.97 
 
 0.24 
 
 
 27.50 
 
 6.37 
 
 750 
 
 15.195 
 
 126.065 
 
 
 13.81 
 
 1.26 
 
 1.06 
 
 .29 
 
 
 27.20 
 
 6.06 
 
 751 
 
 15.193 
 
 126.098 
 
 
 11.44 
 
 1.26 
 
 .81 
 
 .29 
 
 
 27.20 
 
 6.06 
 
 752 
 
 15.137 
 
 126.107 
 
 
 10.21 
 
 1.33 
 
 .89 
 
 .27 
 
 
 26.60 
 
 6.92 
 
 753 
 
 15.137 
 
 126.062 
 
 
 15.23 
 
 1.32 
 
 .92 
 
 .28 
 
 
 27.00 
 
 6.32 
 
 754 
 
 15.140 
 
 126.045 
 
 
 8.81 
 
 1.31 
 
 .87 
 
 .24 
 
 
 25.70 
 
 6.63 
 
 755 
 
 15.132 
 
 125.990 
 
 
 9.24 
 
 1.23 
 
 .60 
 
 .36 
 
 
 23.80 
 
 9.51 
 
 756 
 
 15.138 
 
 125.955 
 
 
 16.84 
 
 .95 
 
 .47 
 
 .31 
 
 
 15.70 
 
 8.87 
 
 757 
 
 15.105 
 
 125.957 
 
 
 10.29 
 
 1.04 
 
 .46 
 
 .34 
 
 
 23.40 
 
 10.34 
 
 758 
 
 15.140 
 
 126.015 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 .94 
 
 .23 
 
 
 25.10 
 
 6.17 
 
 759 
 
 15.098 
 
 126.035 
 
 
 16.06 
 
 1.17 
 
 .73 
 
 .24 
 
 
 19.90 
 
 6.27 
 
 760 
 
 15.108 
 
 126.047 
 
 
 12.15 
 
 1.26 
 
 .93 
 
 .26 
 
 
 26.50 
 
 6.15 
 
 761 
 
 15.000 
 
 125..433 
 
 
 
 1.00 
 
 .82 
 
 .38 
 
 
 22.20 
 
 9.70 
 
 762 
 
 15.067 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 20.00 
 
 1.54 
 
 1.41 
 
 .26 
 
 
 31.10 
 
 6.29 
 
 763 
 
 14.983 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 15.00 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.40 
 
 
 
 29.20 
 
 5.64 
 
 764 
 
 14.967 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 11.88 
 
 1.53 
 
 1.36 
 
 .26 
 
 
 29.40 
 
 6.08 
 
 765 
 
 14.933 
 
 125.067 
 
 
 15.00 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.09 
 
 .27 
 
 
 29.90 
 
 6.59 
 
 766 
 
 15.033 
 
 125.067 
 
 
 17.50 
 
 1.49 
 
 1.21 
 
 .27 
 
 
 29.70 
 
 6.76 
 
 767 
 
 15.050 
 
 125.083 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.20 
 
 .25 
 
 
 29.50 
 
 5.78 
 
 768 
 
 15.033 
 
 125.083 
 
 
 
 1.51 
 
 1.26 
 
 .24 
 
 
 30.60 
 
 5.29 
 
 769 
 
 15.000 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 
 1.66 
 
 1.09 
 
 .24 
 
 
 25.00 
 
 6.22 
 
 770 
 
 15.760 
 
 126.008 
 
 
 
 1.19 
 
 1.08 
 
 
 
 26.50 
 
 5.60 
 
 771 
 
 15.245 
 
 126.535 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.09 
 
 .25 
 
 
 25.70 
 
 6.47 
 
 772 
 
 15.778 
 
 126.187 
 
 
 
 1.51 
 
 1.26 
 
 .27 
 
 
 28.80 
 
 5.84 
 
 773 
 
 15.297 
 
 125.922 
 
 
 9.80 
 
 1.38 
 
 .99 
 
 .32 
 
 
 27.30 
 
 8.30 
 
 774 
 
 15.297 
 
 125.473 
 
 
 2.60 
 
 1.43 
 
 .98 
 
 .29 
 
 
 27.20 
 
 8.09 
 
 775 
 
 15.343 
 
 125.447 
 
 
 7.70 
 
 1.33 
 
 1.21 
 
 .30 
 
 
 26.30 
 
 6.30 
 
 776 
 
 14.217 
 
 125.487 
 
 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.16 
 
 .19 
 
 
 28.10 
 
 5.50 
 
 777 
 
 15.132 
 
 125.132 
 
 
 
 1.21 
 
 .95 
 
 .18 
 
 
 25.20 
 
 7.82 
 
 778 
 
 15.043 
 
 125.138 
 
 
 
 1.39 
 
 1.08 
 
 .23 
 
 
 29.80 
 
 7.47 
 
 779 
 
 15.150 
 
 125.142 
 
 
 
 1.38 
 
 1.07 
 
 .22 
 
 
 31.10 
 
 7.21 
 
 780 
 
 15.148 
 
 125.162 
 
 
 
 1.04 
 
 .56 
 
 .37 
 
 
 26.00 
 
 12.80 
 
 781 
 
 15.100 
 
 125.167 
 
 
 
 1.17 
 
 .84 
 
 .21 
 
 
 25.10 
 
 7.58 
 
 782 
 
 15.000 
 
 125.067 
 
 
 28.75 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.19 
 
 .25 
 
 
 31.10 
 
 6.60 
 
 783 
 
 15.778 
 
 126.187 
 
 
 
 1.50 
 
 1.36 
 
 .26 
 
 
 26.60 
 
 5.96 
 
 784 
 
 15.233 
 
 126.500 
 
 
 
 1.51 
 
 1.05 
 
 .27 
 
 
 27.20 
 
 6.86 
 
 785 
 
 16.025 
 
 125.672 
 
 
 9.21 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 786 
 
 16.083 
 
 124.967 
 
 
 4.25 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 787 
 
 14.242 
 
 124.975 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.12 
 
 .28 
 
 
 26.50 
 
 6.75 
 
 788 
 
 16.050 
 
 124.983 
 
 
 3.50 
 
 1.02 
 
 .76 
 
 
 
 20.60 
 
 7.75 
 
 789 
 
 16.017 
 
 124.983 
 
 
 1.88 
 
 1.58 
 
 1.17 
 
 
 
 28.20 
 
 6.15 
 
 790 
 
 15.033 
 
 125.000 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 791 
 
 15.255 
 
 125.025 
 
 
 11.50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 792 
 
 14.967 
 
 125.067 
 
 
 .62 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 793 
 
 15.067 
 
 125.083 
 
 
 
 1.30 
 
 1.24 
 
 .23 
 
 
 23.20 
 
 5.95 
 
 See footnote at end of table, 
 
59 
 
 TABLE B-12. - Subarea CI — location, abundance, and analytical data — Continued 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, * 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysi 
 
 s, wt 
 
 pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 794 
 795 
 797 
 798 
 799 
 
 800 
 801 
 
 15.340 
 15.327 
 15.758 
 15.275 
 15.273 
 
 15.277 
 14.292 
 
 125.902 
 125.907 
 126.167 
 125.523 
 126.867 
 
 126.153 
 126.257 
 
 <20 
 <20 
 
 5.47 
 10.94 
 14.11 
 
 8.88 
 14.67 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11.67 
 NC 
 59 
 
 1.33 
 
 0.17 
 
 64 
 
 1.04 
 
 0.23 
 
 64 
 
 0.26 
 
 0.04 
 
 60 
 
 0.07 
 
 0.00 
 
 7 
 
 26.79 
 3.23 
 
 64 
 
 6.91 
 
 
 Standard deviation. . . . 
 
 1.40 
 64 
 
 NC Not calculated. 
 
 NOb No nodules observed in photographs or no nodules recovered in samples. 
 
 NPr Nodules present, no additional information available. 
 
 1 Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 
 TABLE B-13. - Subarea CII — location, abundance, and analytical data 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, * 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysi 
 
 s, wt 
 
 pet, 
 
 dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 650 
 
 14.546 
 
 117.270 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 0.92 
 
 0.17 
 
 
 28.30 
 
 9.60 
 
 651 
 
 14.557 
 
 117.303 
 
 
 
 1.26 
 
 .95 
 
 .10 
 
 
 27.30 
 
 9.40 
 
 652 
 
 14.557 
 
 117.303 
 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 .96 
 
 .19 
 
 
 28.20 
 
 8.40 
 
 653 
 
 14.533 
 
 117.320 
 
 
 
 1.23 
 
 .87 
 
 .26 
 
 
 24.60 
 
 10.40 
 
 654 
 
 14.530 
 
 117.327 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 .91 
 
 .19 
 
 
 26.60 
 
 8.70 
 
 655 
 
 14.527 
 
 117.353 
 
 
 
 1.51 
 
 .93 
 
 .17 
 
 
 29.20 
 
 8.30 
 
 656 
 
 14.612 
 
 117.360 
 
 
 
 1.37 
 
 1.01 
 
 .14 
 
 
 29.60 
 
 7.20 
 
 706 
 
 14.438 
 
 117.152 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.16 
 
 .16 
 
 
 28.90 
 
 6.63 
 
 707 
 
 14.207 
 
 118.875 
 
 
 
 1.18 
 
 .99 
 
 .21 
 
 
 23.70 
 
 7.26 
 
 715 
 
 14.970 
 
 116.228 
 
 
 
 1.42 
 
 .90 
 
 .11 
 
 0.06 
 
 31.00 
 
 6.66 
 
 718 
 
 14.767 
 
 116.933 
 
 <20 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 .97 
 
 .14 
 
 
 28.50 
 
 7.20 
 
 719 
 
 14.433 
 
 117.200 
 
 
 
 1.89 
 
 1.06 
 
 .08 
 
 .08 
 
 26.80 
 
 10.30 
 
 720 
 
 14.530 
 
 117.258 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 721 
 
 14.553 
 
 117.287 
 
 
 
 1.45 
 
 1.02 
 
 .20 
 
 .08 
 
 29.80 
 
 8.00 
 
 722 
 
 14.577 
 
 117.310 
 
 
 
 1.52 
 
 1.02 
 
 .17 
 
 .06 
 
 28.50 
 
 8.00 
 
 723 
 
 14.587 
 
 117.337 
 
 
 
 1.14 
 
 .72 
 
 .18 
 
 .06 
 
 24.80 
 
 10.85 
 
 724 
 
 14.573 
 
 117.367 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 727 
 
 14.585 
 
 118.555 
 
 
 
 1.24 
 
 .90 
 
 .18 
 
 .06 
 
 26.90 
 
 8.80 
 
 
 
 
 
 1.39 
 
 0.18 
 
 16 
 
 0.96 
 
 0.10 
 
 16 
 
 0.17 
 
 0.04 
 
 16 
 
 0.07 
 
 0.01 
 
 6 
 
 27.67 
 
 2.02 
 
 16 
 
 8.48 
 
 
 Standard 
 Number of 
 
 
 1.34 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 NPr Nodules present, no additional information available. 
 * Amount of seafloor covered with nodules. 
 
 NOTE. — Blank indicates no information available. 
 
60 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TABLE B-14. - Study area C — location, abundance 
 
 , and 
 
 analytical data 
 
 
 
 outside subareas 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Index 
 
 North 
 latitude 
 
 West 
 longitude 
 
 Population, 1 
 pet 
 
 Abundance , 
 kg/m 2 
 
 Analysis 
 
 , wt pet, dry basis 
 
 No. 
 
 Ni 
 
 Cu 
 
 Co 
 
 Mo 
 
 Mn 
 
 Fe 
 
 657 
 
 15.093 
 
 120.748 
 
 
 
 1.26 
 
 1.13 
 
 0.18 
 
 
 27.60 
 
 6.9C 
 
 658 
 
 14.585 
 
 121.062 
 
 
 
 1.43 
 
 1.01 
 
 .21 
 
 
 28.80 
 
 6.9C 
 
 659 
 
 14.603 
 
 121.032 
 
 
 
 1.32 
 
 1.03 
 
 .22 
 
 
 27.30 
 
 6.5C 
 
 660 
 
 14.247 
 
 123.703 
 
 
 
 1.39 
 
 1.19 
 
 .23 
 
 
 28.10 
 
 6.3C 
 
 661 
 
 14.917 
 
 124.200 
 
 
 
 1.22 
 
 1.39 
 
 .35 
 
 0.04 
 
 22.50 
 
 7.9: 
 
 672 
 
 13.052 
 
 125.480 
 
 
 
 .98 
 
 1.03 
 
 .21 
 
 .04 
 
 25.00 
 
 4.35 
 
 673 
 
 12.327 
 
 125.500 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 674 
 
 12.323 
 
 125.500 
 
 
 9.25 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.15 
 
 .13 
 
 .08 
 
 29.20 
 
 6.43 
 
 675 
 
 12.342 
 
 125.500 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 676 
 
 12.337 
 
 125.502 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 677 
 
 12.330 
 
 125.507 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 678 
 
 12.327 
 
 125.507 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 679 
 
 16.583 
 
 125.583 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 1.16 
 
 .72 
 
 .30 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 8.6C 
 
 690 
 
 13.683 
 
 126.083 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 691 
 
 13.680 
 
 126.083 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 694 
 
 13.755 
 
 126.112 
 
 
 
 1.37 
 
 .95 
 
 
 
 28.10 
 
 7.26 
 
 696 
 
 13.757 
 
 126.118 
 
 
 
 1.41 
 
 1.20 
 
 
 
 29.10 
 
 5.88 
 
 697 
 
 13.760 
 
 126.118 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 698 
 
 13.762 
 
 126.123 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 700 
 
 13.780 
 
 126.228 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 701 
 
 13.773 
 
 126.228 
 
 20-50 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 705 
 
 13.257 
 
 126.800 
 
 
 14.11 
 
 1.21 
 
 1.01 
 
 .20 
 
 .06 
 
 22.80 
 
 6.08 
 
 708 
 
 13.905 
 
 120.813 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.16 
 
 .27 
 
 
 28.20 
 
 7.06 
 
 709 
 
 12.530 
 
 122.458 
 
 
 
 1.29 
 
 1.39 
 
 .19 
 
 
 29.80 
 
 5.20 
 
 714 
 
 12.275 
 
 120.158 
 
 
 
 .62 
 
 .42 
 
 .42 
 
 
 22.00 
 
 19.80 
 
 716 
 
 13.673 
 
 122.307 
 
 
 
 1.11 
 
 1.05 
 
 .25 
 
 .05 
 
 22.70 
 
 7.65 
 
 717 
 
 13.765 
 
 116.630 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 725 
 
 11.233 
 
 117.483 
 
 
 10.66 
 
 1.46 
 
 1.23 
 
 
 
 31.70 
 
 6.39 
 
 726 
 
 13.450 
 
 118.417 
 
 
 
 .99 
 
 1.10 
 
 .55 
 
 
 31.50 
 
 4.20 
 
 728 
 
 11.427 
 
 118.757 
 
 NPr 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 729 
 
 14.478 
 
 119.318 
 
 20-50 
 
 16.40 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 730 
 
 14.837 
 
 119.663 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 731 
 
 13.500 
 
 119.700 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 732 
 
 14.835 
 
 120.142 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 733 
 
 12.330 
 
 122.288 
 
 
 
 1.40 
 
 1.45 
 
 .15 
 
 
 34.90 
 
 4.32 
 
 734 
 
 12.298 
 
 122.418 
 
 
 
 1.08 
 
 1.06 
 
 .20 
 
 
 25.80 
 
 4.90 
 
 796 
 
 13.750 
 
 126.183 
 
 <20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12.61 
 NC 
 
 1.24 
 0.21 
 
 1.09 
 0.23 
 
 0.25 
 0.11 
 
 0.05 
 0.02 
 
 27.22 
 3.65 
 
 6.98 
 3.34 
 
 
 Standard deviation. . . 
 
 
 Number of samples.... 
 
 4 
 
 19 
 
 19 
 
 16 
 
 5 
 
 19 
 
 19 
 
 NC N< 
 
 3t calculated. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 NPr ] 
 
 Nodules present, no additional ii 
 
 ^formation a 
 
 ivailab 
 
 tie. 
 
 
 
 ^Amoui 
 
 at of seafloor covered with nodu 
 
 les. 
 
 
 
 
 
 NOTE.- 
 
 —Blank ii 
 
 idicates n< 
 
 3 information 
 
 available. 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 

 f 
 
 5° 84 •* 
 
X*' 
 
 D o 
 
 

 
 
<y % * o « ° A' 
 
 I 
 
 V o 
 
 £>. -. 
 
 
 %b, *° • * * A 
 
 V 4< : 
 
 .<& 
 
 
 ■'- J -: ■■ 
 
Subarea boundary 
 
 DOMES Site B 
 
 No nodules observed or recovered 
 
 Nodules present, no assays 
 
 Ni plus Cu<1.8 wt pet 
 
 Ni plus Cu 1.8-2.3 wt pet 
 
 Ni plus Cu >2.3 wt pet 
 
 Numbers next to symbols coincide 
 with index numbers in Appendix B 
 
 50 
 
 Scale, km 
 Bathymetric contours in meters below mean sea level 
 
 8°L 
 144° 
 
 141 » 140" 139° 
 
 Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in study area B. Topography adapted from Heezen (25). 
 

 
 I 
 

 
 
 HECKMAN 
 
 BINDERY INC. 
 
 A" FEB 84 
 
152° 
 
 FIGURE 5. • Station locations, nodule occurrences, and grades in study area A. Topography adapted from Heezen (25). 
 
\* 
 
 p 
 
 
 
 <* **TT** .0*" ^> '••» 
 
 
 4.V e> 
 
 \* .. * "°"° 
 
 «fev* 
 
 V 
 
 
 ' . . s * .0* 
 
 &"» *+*>* 
 
 HECKMAN 
 
 BINDERY INC. 
 
 rcj 
 
 N. MANCHESTER, 
 INDIANA 46962 
 
 
1 1 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 II II III II II I IW ™X fjr 
 
 002 959 891 5 
 
 
 m 
 
 H 
 
 Ml 
 
 
 
 
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