The R/V Sonne, a German reserach ship, was a couple of hundred miles east of Barbados when a net designed to capture a variety of marine life instead caught ancient balls off manganese ore
From DailyMail by Ellie Zolfagharifard
- Known as manganese nodules, the large lumps contain valuable metal
- Scientists have been attempting to explain their origin since the 1870s
- Researchers have now found largest patch of manganese in the Atlantic
- One theory is they formed from chemical reactions and bacteria in water
- Another suggests nodules were created by metals from volcanic vents
- Analysis could also unlock the secrets to our planet's changing climate
Ever since they were discovered in 1873, scientists have been trying to find out the origin of the millions of potato-sized metal balls that carpet the world's oceans.
Known as manganese nodules, these lumps contain valuable metals that scientists someday hope to harvest from the sea floor.
Now German scientists could be closer to solving the mystery of their origin after stumbling on the largest patch of manganese nodules ever found in the Atlantic.
Ever since they were discovered in 1873, scientists have been trying to find out the origin of potato-sized metal balls that carpet the world's oceans.
Now German scientists could be closer to solving that mystery after stumbling on the largest patch of manganese nodules ever found in the Atlantic
With growth rates of between one to five millimetres in a million years, some of the nodules could be 10 million years old, the researchers said.
'I was surprised, because this is generally not the place you think of for manganese nodules,' said Colin Devey, chief scientist for the expedition at the Geomar Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research told LiveScience.
'I was surprised, because this is generally not the place you think of for manganese nodules,' said Colin Devey, chief scientist for the expedition at the Geomar Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research told LiveScience.
With growth rates of between one to five millimetres in a million years, some of the nodules could be 10 million years old, the researchers said.
Pictured is a stock image of a manganese nodule
These metal balls consist of the manganese, iron and other coveted metals such as copper, cobalt or zinc
Manganese nodules have been found in every ocean, but are most common in the Pacific Ocean.
These particular nodules were discovered in waters roughly 16,400ft and 18,000ft (5,000 and 5,500 metres) deep.
In the Clarion-Clipperton Zone are the largest known manganese nodule deposits.
One theory as to how they formed is through chemical reactions in seawater that were boosted by microbes.
Another suggests the nodules were created by precipitation of metals from seawater, especially from volcanic thermal vents.
These metal balls consist of the manganese and contain iron and other coveted metals such as copper, cobalt or zinc.
Since the 1970s, they have been considered a possible source of raw materials.
But due to the large water depths and the associated technical complexity and potential environmental damages, no commercial exploitation is currently in sight.
At the same time, manganese nodules are scientifically of great interest since they can be used as climate and environmental archives.
Manganese nodules grow like a pearl shell around a nucleus and as a result record information on the prevailing environmental conditions.
Since the nodules grow very slowly, they provide a record of the world's early climate history.
Scientists are now hoping to analyse the nodules in greater detail to understand exactly how they formed.
They say greater analysis could also unlock the secrets to our planet's changing climate.
Manganese nodules have been found in every ocean, but are most common in the Pacific Ocean. One theory as to how they came to be is that they were formed by chemical reactions in seawater boosted by microbes
Manganese nodules have been found in every ocean, but are most common in the Pacific Ocean.
These particular nodules were discovered in waters roughly 16,400ft and 18,000ft (5,000 and 5,500 metres) deep.
In the Clarion-Clipperton Zone are the largest known manganese nodule deposits.
Here, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has granted 13 research licenses
One theory as to how they formed is through chemical reactions in seawater that were boosted by microbes.
Another suggests the nodules were created by precipitation of metals from seawater, especially from volcanic thermal vents.
These metal balls consist of the manganese and contain iron and other coveted metals such as copper, cobalt or zinc.
Since the 1970s, they have been considered a possible source of raw materials.
But due to the large water depths and the associated technical complexity and potential environmental damages, no commercial exploitation is currently in sight.
At the same time, manganese nodules are scientifically of great interest since they can be used as climate and environmental archives.
Manganese nodules grow like a pearl shell around a nucleus and as a result record information on the prevailing environmental conditions.
Since the nodules grow very slowly, they provide a record of the world's early climate history.
Scientists are now hoping to analyse the nodules in greater detail to understand exactly how they formed.
They say greater analysis could also unlock the secrets to our planet's changing climate.
Manganese nodules have been found in every ocean, but are most common in the Pacific Ocean. One theory as to how they came to be is that they were formed by chemical reactions in seawater boosted by microbes
Links :
- BBC : Deep sea mining licences issued
- MIT : Analyzing the promise of Deep Sea Mining
- Geomar : Looking for deep-sea animals – and finding manganese nodules / Deep-Sea Mining: What are the risks?
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