Ocean and Polar Research

Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (한국해양과학기술원)
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Composition of Rare Earth Elements in Northeast Pacific Surface Sediments, and their Potential as Rare Earth Elements Resources

북동태평양 Clarion-Clipperton 해역 표층 퇴적물의 희토류 조성 및 희토류 광상으로서의 잠재성

  • Seo, Inah (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST) ;
  • Pak, Sang Joon (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST) ;
  • Kiseong, Hyeong (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST) ;
  • Kong, Gee-Soo (Marine Geology Department, Petroleum & Marine Research Division, KIGAM) ;
  • Kim, Jonguk (Deep-sea and Seabed Mineral Resources Research Center, KIOST)
  • 서인아 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터) ;
  • 박상준 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터) ;
  • 형기성 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터) ;
  • 공기수 (한국지질자원연구원 석유해저연구본부 해저지질연구실) ;
  • 김종욱 (한국해양과학기술원 심해저광물자원연구센터)
  • Received : 2014.09.30
  • Accepted : 2014.11.20
  • Published : 2014.12.30
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Abstract

The surface sediments from the manganese nodule exploration area of Korea in the Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone were investigated to understand the resource potential of and emplacement mechanism for rare earth elements (REEs). The sediments are categorized into three lithological units (Unit I, II and III from top to bottom), but into two groups (Unit I/II and Unit III) based on the distribution pattern of REEs. The distribution pattern of REEs in Unit I/II is similar to that of Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS), but shows a negative Ce anomaly and enrichment in heavy REEs (HREEs). In Unit III, the HREE enrichment and Ce anomaly is much more remarkable than Unit I/II when normalized to PAAS, which are interpreted as resulting from the absorption of REEs from seawater by Fe oxyhydroxides that were transported along the buoyant plume from remotely-located hydrothermal vents. It is supported by the PAAS-normalized REE pattern of Unit III which is similar to those of seawater and East Pacific Rise sediments. Meanwhile, the PAAS-normalized REE pattern of Unit I/II is explained by the 4:1 mixing of terrestrial eolian sediment and Unit III from each, indicating the much smaller contribution of hydrothermal origin material to Unit I/II. The studied sediments have the potentiality of a low-grade and large tonnage REE resource. However, the mining of REE-bearing sediment needs a large size extra collecting, lifting and treatment system to dress and refine low-grade sediments if the sediment is exploited with manganese nodules. It is economically infeasible to develop low-grade REE sediments at this moment in time because the exploitation of REE-bearing sediments with manganese nodules increase the mining cost.

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References

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