Clarion and Clipperton Fracture Zone

The radiolarian ooze belt is situated in the North Central Pacific between the Clarion and Clipperton fracture zones, about 10°-20 °N and 120°-160 °W. The reason why the radiolarians are sedimented there is a corresponding oceanic current in the surface water, in which radiolarians have optimal conditions for their growth. 

Source of minor metals Relative to sea water and the Earth s crust, ferromanganese nodules are enriched in nickel, copper, cobalt, and a host of other minor metals such as the platinum-group elements (PGE) and the rare-earth elements (REE). Concentrations of nickel and copper reach up to 2 wt% in high-grade nodules from fields between the Clarion and Clipperton fracture zones, with cobalt concentrations approaching 0.5 wt%. Broadly, nodules from the Pacific appear to be more enriched... 

Renaud-Momant, J. and Goubault, N. (1990) Evaluation of abyssal meiobenthos in the eastern central Pacific (Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone). Progress in Oceanography, 24, 317-329. 

Table 11. 4 Comparison of the average compositions of Mn nodules from S.W. Pacific Basin and Samoan Basin (after Glasby et al. 1980), the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone region (after Friedrich et al. 1983) and the Peru Basin (after Thijssen et al. 1985).

Jeong, K.S., Kang, J.K. and Chough, S.K., 1994. Sedimentary processes and manganese nodule formation in the Korea Deep Ocean Study (KODOS) area, western part of Clarion-Clipperton fracture zones, northeast equatorial Pacific. Marine Geology, 122 125-150. 

Some of the largest fracture zones are located along the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean. The Clipperton And Clarion Fracture Zones, for example, originate along the western coast of Mexico and extend up to 3,300 mi (5,300 km) to the west. At their maximum, these zones may be almost 30 mi (50 km) wide and 10,500 ft (3,150 m) deep. 

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