Manganese Nodules In Indian Ocean

Through an agreement with the international seabed authority india has a right to explore and mine polymetallic nodules over 750 000 square km.

Manganese nodules in indian ocean. It is located in the central indian ocean. Select area electron diffraction and microanalysis of the optically dark component of a ferromanganese nodule from the south east indian ocean manganese field indicate that this is composed of a random stratification of crystallites of vernadite mno 2. Manganese nodules and encrustations crusts together with micronodules are ferromanganese oxide deposits which contain variable amounts of other elements table 1 they occur throughout the oceans although the economically interesting varieties have a much more restricted distribution. All countries have to take permission from the international seabed authority isa to carry out exploration activities in area lying outside the eez 200miles from the country s shores.

Sedimentary nodules which have a lower mn 2 content than diagenetic are dominated by fe vernadite mn feroxyhyte and asbolane buserite while diagenetic nodules are dominated by buserite i birnessite todorokite and asbolane buserite. It may be concluded that the dissolution of metals from the indian ocean nodules by a. Each square metre of the sea floor here contains around 5 kilograms of manganese nodules. So far only a single large area of manganese nodules has been discovered here with an area comparable to that of the penrhyn basin.

Manganese nodules are spherical to oblate in shape and range in size from less than 1 cm in diameter up to. Niger is an indirect process proceeding through the secretion of oxalic and citric acids which in turn reduce the host lattice of manganese iv and iron iii oxides thereby releasing the valuable metals particularly copper nickel and cobalt. Isa was formed under united nations law of sea. The growth types termed diagenetic and hydrogenetic.