• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.529-543
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• 2003

Deep-sea surface sediments, acquired from 1997 to 2002 in the Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone of the northeast equatorial Pacific, were analyzed for index and geotechnical properties to provide background information for the design of manganese nodule minor. The sediments were classified into 16 types based on the measured properties and evaluated in terms of miner maneuverabillity and potential environmental impacts arising from mining activities. It was found that the middle part of the study area covered with coarse siliceous sediments is more favorable to the commercial production than the northern part of pelagic red clay. In particular, Area B2 in the middle part is considered the best mining site since it shows the highest abundance as well as it consists mostly of normally to over consolidated (types B, C, D) coarse siliceous sediments that are appropriate for effective minor movement and accompany weak environmental impacts. Taking account of all the analyzed core logs, the average shear-strength values are proposed as a practical guideline fur movements of a manganese nodule miner: 6.0 kPa at 10cm and 7.0kPa at 40cm below the seabed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.355-359
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• 1987

Texture and mineralogy of different microlayers of deep-sea manganese nodules are investigted to reveal the environmental changes of nodules during a nodule formation. Basically a nodule can have three types (A, B and C) of microlayer. Some nodules show only one or two types of microlayer. The classification is based primarily on the texture. The surface torture of type A is coarsely porous globular microstructure whereas type B and C are intermediate to finely porous textures. The type A is characterized by its highest Mn content $(30.6\%)$ and relatively well-crystallized todorokite as veil as the rapid growth rate. Smectite and biogenic silica (radiolaria) are also easily observed in the type A layer. It appears that the hydrothermal activity is one of the favorable mechanism of formation for the type A layer. The hydrothermal solution is possibly supplied from nearby fracture zone and spreading center.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.3-12
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• 2000

A Study on the cementation for the recovery of Cu, Ni and Co with Mn metallic powders in leaching solution from the manganese nodule that have removed Fe ions was studied. The results showed that the recovery efficiencies of metal ions with Mn powders increased when the temperature, pH and the concentration of chloride ions were increased in mixed solution. And the recovery efficiencies of Cu was 98% and not changed with the addition amounts of Mn powders but, in case of Co and Ni, the recovery efficiencies were increased with the addition amounts. The particle size of precipitate was about $5\mu\textrm{m}$. From the results of experiment we proposed the two-step cementation process for the recovery of Cu, Ni and Co with Mn powders.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.475-483
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• 2011

Quantitative estimate of manganese nodules based on the operation of a free fall grab (FFG) needs to be corrected because of its less retrieval ability. Previously, the correction parameter of the nodule abundance collected by FFG was calculated based on the image analysis of the photos of bottom sediment in the northern sector of the nodule exploration area of Korea in the NE equatorial Pacific. However, nodules in the southern sector are commonly covered by sediment, which may prevent the use of the correction parameter estimated by photographic techniques. In this study, we attempted dual nodule sampling at the same location by different equipments (i.e. box corer (BC) and FFG) to examine the previous correction parameter of nodule abundance for FFG operation. During the exploration cruises in 2007 to 2009, Mn-nodules were collected from 40 stations both by BC and FFG in the southern sector. The correlation analysis between BC and FFG operations revealed that the BC collected nodules 1.43 times larger than FFG. Our result suggests that the correction parameter of 1.43 can be applied for collection of FFG data to estimate Mn-nodule distribution in the southern sector. The obtained parameter is similar to the previous parameter (1.42~1.45) calculated by the image analysis method, indicating an usefulness of new correction parameter suggested by this study.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2016

A scale up tests (380 kg/day) using a continuous solvent extraction and electro-winning system was carried out to separate and recover cobalt from a solution containing 1.91 g/L Co and 14.65 g/L Ni. The solution was obtained during a process including solvent extraction and precipitation stages for removal of Cu and Fe from a synthetic sulfuric acid solution of manganese nodule matte. The optimal condition for solvent extraction was : solvent concentration of 0.22M Na-Cyanex 272 (45% saponified with NaOH) and O:A phase ratios of 1:1.5, 10:1 and 1.5:1 used in extraction, scrubbing and stripping stages, respectively. The extraction and stripping efficiencies were found to be 99.8% and 99.88%, respectively. The stripped solution contained 40.27 g/L Co with 4 ppm Ni. Cobalt metal of 99.963% purity was yielded with current efficiency of 67% and current density of $0.563A/dm^2$ during the electro-winning process.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.771-780
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• 2004

Chronic exposure to high levels of manganese (Mn) leads a pronounced and debilitating disorder known as manganism. Research on the toxic manifestation of manganese have focused primarily on its neurological effects because exposure to high levels of the metal produces a distinct and irreversible extrapyramidal dysfunction resembling the dystonic movements associated with Parkinson's physiological and biochemical systems in the body. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of Mn on mineralization in primary rat calvarial cells. The experimental groups were in concentration of 0, 10, 30 and 60 ${\mu}M$. The results were as follows: 1. ALP activity was decreased in concentration of 30 and 60 ${\mu}M$ (p<0.01). 2. Bone nodule formation was depressed in concentration of 30 and 60 ${\mu}M$ at day 14 and 21 (p<0.01). 3. RT-PCR results showed an altered expression of bone matrix proteins. These result suggested that manganese might decrease or alter the expression of the osteoblast phenotype.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.45-50
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• 2002

This study presents a modeling method to predict fate of resuspended sediment in the development of deep-sea mineral resources. Resuspended deep-sea sediment during the development is considered a major environmental problem. In order to quantitatively analyze the resuspended sediment in the water column, particle size distribution (PSD) is considered an important factor. The model developed here includes PSD and coagulation process, as well as sedimentation process. Using the model, basic simulation was performed under representative environmental setting. The simulation showed the dynamics of change of particle size distribution for 50 m depth of water column up to 10 days of simulation time. Coagulation seemed an important factor in the fate of resuspended deep-sea sediment.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.168-177
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• 2008

Trafficablility of a miner and potential environmental impacts due to mining activities should be considered in the selection of a commercial manganese nodule mining site. These two factors can be evaluated comparatively with physical properties and shear strength of sea-bed sediments. For the qualitative comparison of potential minig sites in terms of these two factors, physical properties such as water contents, void ratios, porosities, and grain densities, and shear strengths of surface sediments were determined for the three potential manganese nodule mining sites(KR1, KR2, and KR5) in the Korean manganese nodule contract area, northeast Pacific. For the study, sediment samples were collected from 107 stations from 2004 to 2006. The physical properties of surface sediments showed more significant differences between northern(KR1, KR2) and southern(KR5) blocks than between northern blocks(KR1 vs. KR2). Water content, void ratio, and porosity of sediments from KR5 were relatively higher than those from KR1 and KR2. Grain density of sediments from KR5 was relatively lower than those from KR1 and KR2. Shear strengths of the top 10cm sediments were higher in KR1 and KR2, whereas those of the deeper part were highest in KR5 block. Generally, sediments of high water contents are less suspendible than those of the low water contents by benthic disturbances, thus less disturbance is expected in the sediments of high water content by mining activities. In terms of trafficability, the shear strength of sediment below 10 cm deep is more important than shallower part because miner will disturb at least top 10 cm interval of the surface sediments. Base on these results, we conclude that KR5 area will be the best site for commercial mining among three investigated sites in this study.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2014

In August, 2013, we collected epifaunal megabenthos using a deep sea camera (DSC) around a benthic impact study (BIS) site. This was located in the KR5 block of the Korea Deep Ocean Study (KODOS) area in the Northeastern Pacific. The DSC was positioned at $6.8{\pm}2.9m$ (SD) from the sea bottom and was operated from a position at $131^{\circ}56.85^{\prime}-131^{\circ}55.02^{\prime}W$ for 2.3 h at a speed of 1-2 knot. The geographical features of the study area consisted of two structures; a trough in the middle and hills at the east and west sides. Sediment conditions were consistent within six blocks and were affected by slope and polymetallic nodule deposits. We analyzed 226 megafaunal species. Sipunculida comprised the highest percentage of individuals (39%), and the dominant epifaunal megabenthos were Hormathiidae sp., Primnoidae sp., Hexactinellida sp., Hyphalaster inermis, Freyella benthophila, Paelopatides confundens, Psychropotes longicauda, and Peniagone leander. More than 80% of the total density of megafauna occurred on sea plain (D- and E-blocks). We found two distinct groups in the community, one located on sea plains and the other along both sides of the sea slop. Our results suggest that geographical features such as slope and polymetalic nodule deposits are important in controlling the distribution of the epifaunal megabenthos around the KODOS area.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2023

The determination of the oxidation states of metal elements in manganese nodules sheds light on the understanding of the formation mechanism of nodules, providing insights into the paleo-environmental conditions such as the redox potential of the aqueous system. This study aims to reveal the oxidation states and chemical bonding of manganese in the natural polymetallic nodules, utilizing conventional X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Specifically, shallow manganese nodules from the Siberian Arctic Sea, effectively recording mineralogical variations, were used in this study. Detailed analysis of XPS Mn 2p spectra showed changes in the manganese oxidation state from the center to the outer parts of the nodules. The central part of the nodules showed a higher Mn⁴⁺ content, approximately 67.9%, while the outermost part showed about 63% of Mn⁴⁺ due to an increase in the Mn³⁺+Mn²⁺. The decrease in the Mn oxidation state with the growth is consistent with the previously reported mineralogical variations from todorokite to birnessite with growth. Additionally, the O 1s spectra presented a predominance of Mn-O-H bonds in the outer layers compared to the center, suggesting hydration by water in the layered manganates of outer layers. The results of this study demonstrate that XPS can be directly applied to understand changes in paleo-environmental conditions such as the redox states during the growth of manganese nodules. Finally, future studies using high-resolution synchrotron-based XPS experiments could achieve details in oxidation states of manganese and trace metal elements.