• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.173-182
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• 2007

It is well known that manganese nodules enriched with valuable metals are abundantly distributed in the abyssal plain area in the Clarion-Clipperton (C-C) fracture zone of the northeast Pacific. Previous studies using deep-sea camera (DSC) system reported different observations about the relation of seafloor topographic change and nodule abundance, and they were sometimes contradictory. Moreover, proper foundation on the estimation of DSC underwater position, was not introduced clearly. The variability of the mining condition of manganese nodule according to seafloor topography was examined in the Korea Deep Ocean Study (KODOS) area, located in the C-C zone. In this paper, it is suggested that the utilization of deep towing system such as DSC is very useful approach to whom are interested in analysing the distributional characteristics of manganese nodule filed and in selecting promising minable area. To this purpose, nodule abundance and detailed bathymetry were acquired using deep-sea camera system and multi-beam echo sounder, respectively on the seamount free abyssal hill area of southern part ($132^{\circ}10'W$, $9^{\circ}45'N$) in KODOS regime. Some reasonable assumptions were introduced to enhance the accuracy of estimated DSC sampling position. The accuracy in the result of estimated underwater position was verified indirectly through the comparison of measured abundances on the crossing point of neighboring DSC tracks. From the recorded seafloor images, not only nodules and sediments but cracks and cliffs could be also found frequently. The positions of these probable unminable area were calculated by use of the recorded time being encountered with them from the seafloor images of DSC. The results suggest that the unminable areas are mostly distributed on the slope sides and hill tops, where nodule collector can not travel over.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1981

The manganese nodule from the Blake Plateau consists mainly of microcrystalline to cryptocrystalline todorokite, with minor quartz, clays, carbonates and phillipsite. The nodule in cross section shows concentric layers, core structure, unconformity and fissure-filling structure megascopically, and colloform, fragmental and diagenetic textures microscopically. A new classification of colloform textures which are applicable to any nodule of any source shows that the colloform textures consist of three basic textural units: banded, cuspate and globular. They occur independently or in combination with each other to form various types of textures. The presence of three predominant textural types suggests that there are three different major modes of nodule growth which are controlled by physical and chemical environments.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.69-74
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• 2014

Slags generated in the smelting reduction of deep sea manganese nodule could be utilized as an additional materials for making Fe-Si-Mn alloys by mixing with cokes and re-smelting at an arc furnace. In this re-melting process slag is also generated, and the secondary slag is treated as waste. In this survey, recycling of the waste slag of Mn nodule was studied. It is tried to utilize the waste slag as ceramic materials or construction materials. However, it is difficult to use the waste slag directly as an additional material to ceramics such as portland cement or castable refractory material due to the much difference of chemical compositions. As an altercation road constructing material is considered, and toxicity on the soil of the waste slag was tested according to Korean Standard for testing permissible amount of toxic substances. The test result was satisfied with the requirements on the standard. So, it should be suggested that the waste slag of the Mn nodule could be utilized as constructing materials such as road filler or base materials.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.429-437
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to correct the nodule abundance of FFG (Free Fall Grab) sampler on KODOS (Korea Deep Ocean Study) area in North-East Pacific Ocean. The image analysis of sea-floor photography was carried out for correcting the abundance of nodules, and the image enhancement techniques and edge detection method were used to discriminate between nodules and sediments. The trace of nodules on sediments was detected to reduce the fractionation effect in calculating the coverage of nodules. The three methods, using the coverage of nodules, using the volume density, and using corrected volume density, were utilized for the correction of the nodule abundance. The method using the coverage of nodules was more convenient and available for the correction of nodule abundance than the other two methods. The method using the corrected volume density had the highest confidence level compared with the other methods.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2009

Recently, new extraction technology for manganese nodule has been developed as alternative noble metallic resources. It is important to understand thermodynamic behaviors of phosphorus in low basic slag system from the viewpoint of the refining processing optimization. Thermodynamic behaviors of phosphorus in the $FeO-MnO-CaO-SiO_2-MgO_{satd.}$ slag system were investigated at 1723 K with various oxygen potential and slag composition of low basicity. The experimental results for dependence of phosphorus on oxygen potential and slag basicity indicated that the dissolution mechanism of phosphorus into slag of low basicity could be derived as follows; $[P]+5/4O_2+(O^{2-})=({PO_{3.5}}^{2-})$ Present experimental results implied that stability of phosphorus in slag would be depended on both of $O^{2-}$ (basicity) and content of $Ca^{2+}$ in molten slag. The thermodynamic effect of FeO, MnO and $Na_2O$ on low basicity on phosphate capacity was discussed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.199-211
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• 1995

The deep sea camera system could render it possible to obtain the detailed information of the nodule distribution, but difficult to estimate nodule abundance quantitatively. In order to estimate nodule abundance quantitatively from deep seabed photographs, the nodule abundance equation was derived from the box core data obtained in KODOS area(long.: $154^{\circ}{\sim}151^{\circ}W$, lat.: $9^{\circ}{\sim}12^{\circ}N$) during two survey cruises carried out in 1989 and 1990. The regression equation derived by considering extent of burial of nodule to Handa's equation compensates for the abundance error attributable to partial burial of some nodules by sediments. An average long axis and average extent of burial of nodules in photographed area are determined according to the surface textures of nodules, and nodule coverage is calculated by the image analysis method. Average nodule abundance estimated from seabed photographs by using the equation is approximately 92% of the actual average abundance in KODOS area. The measured sampling points by box core or free fall grab are in general very sparse and hence nodule abundance distribution should be interpolated and extrapolated from measured data to uncharacterized areas. The another goal of this study is to depict continuous distribution of nodule abundance in KODOS area by using PC-version of geostatistical model in which several stages are systematically proceeded. Geostatistics was used to analyse spatial structure and distribution of regionalized variable(nodule abundance) within sets of real data. In order to investigate the spatial structure of nodule abundance in KODOS area, experimental variograms were calculated and fitted to a spherical models in isotropy and anisotropy, respectively. The spherical structure models were used to map out distribution of the nodule abundance for isotropic and anisotropic models by using the kriging method. The result from anisotropic model is much more reliable than one of isotropic model. Distribution map of nodule abundance produced by PC-version of geostatistical model indicates that approximately 40% of KODOS area is considered to be promising area(nodule abundance > $5kg/m^2$) for mining in case of anisotropy.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.26-31
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• 1995

The leaching characteristics of manganese nodules were investigated in dilute hydrochloric acid solution using copper malie as a reductant. Thc capper matte has been found to be an effective reductant for exhacting morc than 96% of Mn, 95% of Ni, 91% of Ca, 88% of Cu and 36% of Fe when leached in 2.5 M HCI at 70$^{\circ}$C for 2hr. The dissolutions of Mu, Co, and Ni depend on thc amaunt of added cappcr matte. 7he ratin of liquid and solid is an important [actor on the extraction of metals during leaching The dissolution af Mn, Co, Ni and Cu incrcascd w~th the increase in temperalure of leachant. The leaching rates of Mn, Co, NI and Cu from manganese nodule m the presznce of copper matte is limited by bath thc surface chemical reaction and pare diffusion processes. Thc activation energies far Mn. Co: Ni and Cu were 17. 61, 12.8, 17.2 and 57.88 KcaUmol, rcspcctively.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.14-20
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• 2006

During the 11 year period of 1995-2005, there was about a 40% increase in the world copper demand mainly because of the Asian economic growth. In the increase, about a half was consumed by China. Most of the China's copper demand increase has been taken place over the final 5-6 years of that period. The growth is expected to continue for several years, and in 10 years or sooner the same situation is expected for India. Copper is the third metal in global demand, but its little abundance in the Earth's crust is not well recognized. From the production rate and the abundance, a copper shortage, or crisis, has a high probability than the other metals. Deep ocean mineral resources such as manganese nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zones, Kuroko-type massive seafloor sulfides (SMS), and cobalt-rich manganese crusts in the EEZ and the high sea areas have big potentials for the future sources. We need to re-evaluate their potentials as copper resources and other metals to realize their developments. The same situation is under progress in the hydro-carbon markets. Methane hydrates that are classified into non-conventional hydro-carbon resources have an important role as the future sources, too.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2004

$SiO_2$ and CaO are added to decrease the smelting temperature in the reduction-smelting method for manganese nodule processing. These elements are components of the manganese nodules and might be very important controlling factors in the processing due to the locally variable content. The 707 chemical data of manganese nodules acquired from 1994 to 2001 in KODOS(Korea Deep Ocean Survey) area were used for the hierarchical cluster analysis. The chemical data were classified by the morphological types, and the averages of the chemical data for each station were classified by the facies groups and the localities. All data are plotted on the $SiO_2-CaO-MnO$ phase diagram at $1773^{\circ}K$ to compare with the best compositional area in the nodule smelting. Variations and distributions of $SiO_2$ and CaO in KODOS nodules were also reviewed. The mineral phases assigned by the cluster analysis are CFA(Carbonate Fluorapatite), Fe-oxide, Al-silicate, and Mn-oxide. MnO contents are generally higher than $SiO_2$ contents in most of the morphological types except for the Is- and It-type. The Dt- and Tt-type show wider range and the E-types show high anomaly in their CaO contents. The stations which belong to facies group A and B show generally higher MnO contents than $SiO_2$ contents, however, the stations of facies group C and D show wide range in their MnO and $SiO_2$ contents. It seems to be very important to control the $SiO_2$ contents in the processing because of the wide range in the northern area. The additions of approximately 10 wt.% CaO and 10 wt.% $SiO_2$ are recommended for the northern area, whereas, the additions of approximately 10 wt.% CaO and 20 wt.% $SiO_2$ are recommended for the southern area.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Resources Recycling Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.157-161
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• 2005