Hydrogenetic and Diagenetic Controls on the Specific Surface Area of Polymetallic Nodules in Deep Ocean Basins
Polymetallic nodules (nodules) are a predominant deep-sea mineral resource due to theirenrichment with critical metals, such as Co, Ni, and Cu, and rare earth elements (REEs). The loose and porous nature of nodules contributes to their adsorption and enrichment in trace metals from seawater and pore...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1431 |
| _version_ | 1797458283112431616 |
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| author | Xiangwen Ren Haonan Li Shijuan Yan Huaiming Li Xuefa Shi |
| author_facet | Xiangwen Ren Haonan Li Shijuan Yan Huaiming Li Xuefa Shi |
| author_sort | Xiangwen Ren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Polymetallic nodules (nodules) are a predominant deep-sea mineral resource due to theirenrichment with critical metals, such as Co, Ni, and Cu, and rare earth elements (REEs). The loose and porous nature of nodules contributes to their adsorption and enrichment in trace metals from seawater and pore water. Consequently, the specific surface area (SSA) of nodules is a key factor requiring further study. However, controls on the SSA of nodules with various genetic types remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate controls on nodule SSA by analyzing the transition metals, REEs, mineralogy, and SSA of nodules recovered from basins in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, including the Northwest Pacific Basin (NPB), Bauer Basin (BB), Tiki Basin (TB), Wharton Basin (WB), Central Indian Basin (CIB), and Angola Basin (AB). Nodule SSAs were compared among the various basins by calculating the BET SSA (based on the equation proposed by Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller, 1938). The results suggest thatnodules from the PNB, WB, CIB, and AB are mainly hydrogenetic, and those nodules have a relatively high SSA, high Co, low Ni and Cu, positive Ce anomalies, and low X-ray diffraction (XRD) intensities at ~10 Å. The nodules from the BB and TB are mainly diagenetic in origin, characterized by a relatively low SSA, low Co, high Ni and Cu, negative Ce anomalies, and high XRD intensities at ~10 Å. The SSAs of nodules were significantly positively correlated with Co, δCe, and light REEs (LREEs), and negatively correlated with the XRD intensity at ~10 Å, Ni, and Cu. The SSAs of nodules from the NPB ranged from 329.440 m<sup>2</sup>/g to 418.711 m<sup>2</sup>/g, comparable to the SSAs of Co-rich crusts on seamounts. This study proposes that nodule SAA is regulated by nodule genesis and that hydrogenetic nodules have a higher SSA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:35:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe35306696b64046b1c2d5e0f970b32b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:35:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe35306696b64046b1c2d5e0f970b32b2023-11-24T14:57:39ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2023-11-011311143110.3390/min13111431Hydrogenetic and Diagenetic Controls on the Specific Surface Area of Polymetallic Nodules in Deep Ocean BasinsXiangwen Ren0Haonan Li1Shijuan Yan2Huaiming Li3Xuefa Shi4Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Metallogeny, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, ChinaCollege of Marine Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Geology and Metallogeny, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, ChinaKey Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Geology and Metallogeny, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, ChinaPolymetallic nodules (nodules) are a predominant deep-sea mineral resource due to theirenrichment with critical metals, such as Co, Ni, and Cu, and rare earth elements (REEs). The loose and porous nature of nodules contributes to their adsorption and enrichment in trace metals from seawater and pore water. Consequently, the specific surface area (SSA) of nodules is a key factor requiring further study. However, controls on the SSA of nodules with various genetic types remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate controls on nodule SSA by analyzing the transition metals, REEs, mineralogy, and SSA of nodules recovered from basins in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans, including the Northwest Pacific Basin (NPB), Bauer Basin (BB), Tiki Basin (TB), Wharton Basin (WB), Central Indian Basin (CIB), and Angola Basin (AB). Nodule SSAs were compared among the various basins by calculating the BET SSA (based on the equation proposed by Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller, 1938). The results suggest thatnodules from the PNB, WB, CIB, and AB are mainly hydrogenetic, and those nodules have a relatively high SSA, high Co, low Ni and Cu, positive Ce anomalies, and low X-ray diffraction (XRD) intensities at ~10 Å. The nodules from the BB and TB are mainly diagenetic in origin, characterized by a relatively low SSA, low Co, high Ni and Cu, negative Ce anomalies, and high XRD intensities at ~10 Å. The SSAs of nodules were significantly positively correlated with Co, δCe, and light REEs (LREEs), and negatively correlated with the XRD intensity at ~10 Å, Ni, and Cu. The SSAs of nodules from the NPB ranged from 329.440 m<sup>2</sup>/g to 418.711 m<sup>2</sup>/g, comparable to the SSAs of Co-rich crusts on seamounts. This study proposes that nodule SAA is regulated by nodule genesis and that hydrogenetic nodules have a higher SSA.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1431polymetallicnodulesspecific surface areahydrogeneticdiageneticcontrols |
| spellingShingle | Xiangwen Ren Haonan Li Shijuan Yan Huaiming Li Xuefa Shi Hydrogenetic and Diagenetic Controls on the Specific Surface Area of Polymetallic Nodules in Deep Ocean Basins Minerals polymetallicnodules specific surface area hydrogenetic diagenetic controls |
| title | Hydrogenetic and Diagenetic Controls on the Specific Surface Area of Polymetallic Nodules in Deep Ocean Basins |
| title_full | Hydrogenetic and Diagenetic Controls on the Specific Surface Area of Polymetallic Nodules in Deep Ocean Basins |
| title_fullStr | Hydrogenetic and Diagenetic Controls on the Specific Surface Area of Polymetallic Nodules in Deep Ocean Basins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrogenetic and Diagenetic Controls on the Specific Surface Area of Polymetallic Nodules in Deep Ocean Basins |
| title_short | Hydrogenetic and Diagenetic Controls on the Specific Surface Area of Polymetallic Nodules in Deep Ocean Basins |
| title_sort | hydrogenetic and diagenetic controls on the specific surface area of polymetallic nodules in deep ocean basins |
| topic | polymetallicnodules specific surface area hydrogenetic diagenetic controls |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/13/11/1431 |
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