Manganese nodules element associations

Glasby G. (1974) Mechanisms of incorporation of manganese and associated trace elements in marine manganese nodules. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol Ann. Rev. 12, 11—40. 

The economic potential of marine manganese deposits and the potential of these deposits as paleoenvironmental indicators are directly related to the chemistry of manganese, its associated transition metals and other key elements adsorbed on to the surface of these deposits. It is this complex interplay of these factors which makes the study of marine manganese deposits so intriguing. Unfortunately, research on deep-sea manganese nodules and crasts has been held hostage to the economic potential of these deposits. Time will tell if these deposits are to become a major source of metals for the world as was once thought. 

Unique characteristics of ferromanganese nodules and associated oxidation-reduction reactions have been used by soil scientists as morphological indicators to help identify hydric soils (see Chapter 3). These characteristics are termed by soil scientists as redoximorphic features however, various terms such as redox concentrations, redox depletions, and reduced matrix are synonymously used for the oxidation-reduction of iron and manganese and their respective concentrations. We prefer not to define these characteristics as redoximorphic features because oxidation-reduction reactions not only involve iron and manganese but also a range of elements that support biotic communities in the biosphere. 

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