Characterization of Fines Produced by Degradation of Polymetallic Nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone

Kim, Mun Gi; Hyeong, Kiseong; Yoo, Chan Min; Lee, Ji Yeong; Seo, Inah

doi:10.3390/min11020205

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Fines Produced by Degradation of Polymetallic Nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone

by

Mun Gi Kim

¹

,

Kiseong Hyeong

¹,

Chan Min Yoo

²,

Ji Yeong Lee

³ and

Inah Seo

^4,*

¹

Global Ocean Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Korea

²

Deep-Sea Mineral Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan 49111, Korea

³

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea

⁴

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Minerals 2021, 11(2), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020205

Submission received: 31 January 2021 / Revised: 12 February 2021 / Accepted: 13 February 2021 / Published: 15 February 2021

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploration of Polymetallic Nodules)

Download

Browse Figures

Versions Notes

Abstract

The discharge of fluid–particle mixture tailings can cause serious disturbance to the marine environment in deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules. Unrecovered nodule fines are one of the key components of the tailings, but little information has been gained on their properties. Here, we report major, trace, and rare earth element compositions of <63 μm particles produced by the experimental degradation of two types of polymetallic nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone. Compared to the bulk nodules, the fines produced are enriched in Al, K, and Fe and depleted in Mn, Co, Ni, As, Mo, and Cd. The deviation from the bulk composition of original nodules is particularly pronounced in the finer fraction of particles. With X-ray diffraction patterns showing a general increase in silicate and aluminosilicates in the fines, the observed trends indicate a significant contribution of sediment particles released from the pores and cracks of nodules. Not only the amount but also the composition of nodule fines is expected to significantly differ depending on the minimum recovery size of particles at the mining vessel.

Keywords: polymetallic nodules; deep-sea mining; tailings; elemental composition

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Kim, M.G.; Hyeong, K.; Yoo, C.M.; Lee, J.Y.; Seo, I. Characterization of Fines Produced by Degradation of Polymetallic Nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone. Minerals 2021, 11, 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020205

AMA Style

Kim MG, Hyeong K, Yoo CM, Lee JY, Seo I. Characterization of Fines Produced by Degradation of Polymetallic Nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone. Minerals. 2021; 11(2):205. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020205

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kim, Mun Gi, Kiseong Hyeong, Chan Min Yoo, Ji Yeong Lee, and Inah Seo. 2021. "Characterization of Fines Produced by Degradation of Polymetallic Nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone" Minerals 11, no. 2: 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020205

APA Style

Kim, M. G., Hyeong, K., Yoo, C. M., Lee, J. Y., & Seo, I. (2021). Characterization of Fines Produced by Degradation of Polymetallic Nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone. Minerals, 11(2), 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020205

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Menu

Characterization of Fines Produced by Degradation of Polymetallic Nodules from the Clarion–Clipperton Zone

Abstract

Share and Cite

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI