• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.323-337
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• 1999

Seafloor morphology and manganese nodule occurrence were studied in the Korea Deep-sea Environmental Study (KODES) area, northeast equatorial Pacific, to understand their relationship. Study area is composed of three elongated valleys and hills with about 100~200 m height along NNE-SSW direction. Valley region is generally flat. However, hill region is very rugged with big cliffs of about 100m height and small depressions of several tens of meters depth. Tectonic movement along the Clarion-Clipperton fracture zone, consequent formation of elongated abyssal hills and Valleys, erosion of siliceous bottom sediments by bottom currents, and dissolution of carbonate sediments on the abyssal hills below CCD result in the rugged morphology. Manganese nodule occurrence is closely related to the morphology of the study area; mostly rounded-shaped manganese nodules with about 5 cm diameter are abundant on the flat valley region, whereas irregular shaped nodules (or manganese crust) with less than 5 cm to about 1 m diameter occur on the hill. These results supports the previous reports that nodule abundance, composition, and morphology are variable both on regional and local small scales on the seafloor even within some abundant nodule provinces depending on oceanographic characteristics such as bathymetric features, surface sediment type, sediment thickness, and so on. We suggest that such oceanographic characteristics affect interrelatedly on the formation of manganese nodules, and tectonic movement of the Pacific plate ultimately constrain the nodule occurrence. A potential mining place in the KODES area seems to be the valley region, which is elongated to the NNW-SSE direction with 3-4 km width.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 2008

Manganese nodule abundance estimated based on operation of a Free Fall Grab(FFG) needs to be corrected to make up for its incomplete recovery of nodule, because FFGs can not recover all the nodules distributed on seabed. The correction factor for nodule abundance was proposed as 1.29 and 1.13 in 1994 and 2002, respectively, mainly based on the analyses of seabed images. In this study we collected manganese nodules using both FFG and Box Corer(BC) at same stations to examine the accuracy of the previous correction factors. It was found that the nodule recovery of the BC was 1.4 times greater than that of the FFG at the same sampling station, suggesting the necessity of re-evaluation of the previously proposed correction factor for FFG. More extensive sampling and improvement of image analysis method are required to improve the precision of nodule abundance correction factor for FFG.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.427-441
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• 2006

Sub-bottom profiler and deep tow imaging system were performed in the KODOS (Korea Deep Ocean Study) area in order to find out controlling factor in nodule formation from the relationship between distribution of Mn nodules and micro-scale topographic change. Although abundance of r- and t- types nodules increase on the seafloor of thin upper transparent layer, no significant correlation was found between the thickness of upper transparent layer and total nodule abundance in the study area. Our results show that distribution pattern of nodule, including abundance, continuity, and facies, can vary with small scale in similar abyssal plain.

• 한국지구과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.52-52
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• 2010

동해 한국대지 남부(south Korea Plateau)에서 2010년 2월에 한국해양연구원의 온누리호를 이용하여 해저지형 및 자생광물 탐사가 실시되었다. 다중빔 음향측심기를 이용한 해저지형 조사는 2-3 km 탐사측선 간격으로 약 400 L-km 정도가 실시되었다. 조사구역 A($37^{\circ}$ 16'-18'N, $130^{\circ}$ 02'-16'E)는 890-1,900 m의 수심범위와 남쪽으로 갈수록 수심이 깊어져 울릉분지(Ulleung Basin)와 연결된다. 크고 작은 소규모의 구릉이 사면을 따라 다수 분포하고 있다. 조사구역 B($37^{\circ}$ 26'-40'N, $130^{\circ}$ 23'-34'E)의 정상부는 900-1,000 m로 비교적 평평하게 나타났고, 남동방향으로는 2,200 m까지 급격하게 수심이 증가하는 사면으로 이루어져 있다. 한국대지내 노출 암반지역은 남동쪽 사면의 일부 지역에 분포하고 있다. 자생광물 탐사는 일차적으로 천부지층 탄성파탐사를 수행하여 시료채취 가능 여부를 현장에서 확인한 후에, A 및 B구역내 11개 지점에서 드렛지를 이용하여 암석시료를 채취하였다. 채취된 암석은 주로 현무암이며, 많은 양의 화산기원 부석(pumice) 및 화산재(box core 자료)도 확인되었다. 또한, 인광석으로 추정되는 암석과, 망간단괴(manganese nodules)와 망간각(manganese crust)의 일부 시료도 채취하는데 성과가 있었다.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.383-394
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• 2014

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.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.411-415
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• 2009

Some microorganisms are capable of leaching Mn(II) from nonsulfidic manganese ores indirectly via nonenzymatic processes. Such reductive dissolution requires organic substrates, such as glucose, sucrose, or galactose, as a source of carbon and energy for microbial growth. This study investigated characteristics of Mn(II) leaching from manganese nodules by using heterotrophic Bacillus sp. strain MR2 provided with corn starch as a less-expensive substrate. Leaching of Mn(II) at 25.6 g Mn(II) $kg^{-1}$ nodule $day^{-1}$ was accompanied with cell growth, but part of the produced Mn(II) re-adsorbed onto residual $MnO_2$ particles after 24 h. Direct contact of cells to manganese nodule was not necessary as a separation between them with a dialysis tube produced similar amount [24.6 g Mn(II) $kg^{-1}$ nodule $day^{-1}$]. These results indicated an involvement of extracellular diffusible compound(s) during Mn(II) leaching by strain MR2. In order to optimize a leaching process we tested factors that influence the reaction, and the most efficient conditions were $25\sim35^{\circ}C$, pH 5~7, inoculum density of 1.5~2.5% (v/v), pulp density of 2~3 g/L, and particle size <75 ${\mu}m$. Although Mn(II) leaching was enhanced as particle size decrease, we suggest <212 ${\mu}m$ as a proper size range since more grinding means more energy consumption The results would help for the improvement of bioleaching of manganese nodule as a less expensive, energy-efficient, and environment-friendly technology as compared to the existing physicochemical metal recovery technologies.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.277-287
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• 2007

To understand the effects of the powdered manganese nodule and sea bottom sediment pumped up with nodules on the mining process, the shattering ratio of manganese nodule and their physical properties are analyzed. The self shattering ratio and crushing shattering ratio are about 27% and about 3%, respectively. Then total shattering ratio is about 30%. The initial turbidity of the powdered manganese nodule and the bottom sediment show high, i.e., about 3,100 and 1,850 respectively. But their turbidities decrease rapidly with time. After 1 hour, turbidity of the powdered manganese nodule drops to about 1,570 and that of the bottom sediment to 1,310. The turbidity of Na-bentonite changes from 820 to 730 after 1 h and to 700 after 2 h. The viscosity of powdered manganese nodule is $1.4{\sim}1.5cP$, and the viscosity of bottom sediment is less than 1 cP. The viscosity fo Na-bentonite is initially 37.2 and increase with time to 86.4 cP after 30 min. The high initial turbidity of powdered manganese nodule is due to dark color of the powder. The high specific gravity makes rapid precipitation and then decreases the turbidity rapidly. The bottom sediment shows high initial turbidity because of easy suspension with very fine particle size. But it cannot be hydrated and formed gel in suspension, then it is easily precipitated. However Na-bentonite is hydrated to the expended state and makes gel state, then it shows high turbidity and high viscosity. These physical properties of the powdered manganese nodule suggest that the powder of manganese nodule should not make scaling inside of lifting pipe or pump. And the bottom sediment lifted up with manganese nodule should not play the role of drilling mud shch as Na-bentonite.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.210-227
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• 1992

KODOS-89 area, the northwestern part of Clarion-Clarion-Clipperton fracture zones in the Northeast Pacific, was surveyed in order to study the occurrence and distribution of manganese nodules. Variations in the nodule characteristics are related mainly to seafloor topography. Nodules from abyssal plain have high Mn/Fe ratio and high Mn, Cu, Ni and Zn concentrations, whereas those from seamount are characterized by low Mn/Fe ratio and high Fe and Co concentrations. These compositional characteristics are attributed to toxic diagnosis and hydrogenesis, respectively. Nodules of the early diegenetic origin tend to accurate crystalline Mn-oxides uniformly within the topmost sediment layers and maintain a regular spheroidal, ellipsoidal to discoidal shape with rough surface textures. On the other hand, those of hydrogenetic origin are characterized by polynucleation, irregualr shape, and smooth surface textures. Nodule abundance is high (avg. 13.4 kg/m$^2$) in seamount area, resulting from ample supply of nucleating materials by auto-fragmentation of older nodules. Nodule abundance in abyssal plain is relatively low (avg. 3.9 kg/m$^2$) and tends to increase southward. This phenomenon results from facilitation of taking seed materials from adjacent seamount and enhancement of the early diagenesis by sufficient supply of organic materials. Nodule abundance is considered to be controlled primarily by seeding effects and secondly by supplies of organic materials.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.647-653
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• 2004

Experimental studies with 4.3m and enlarged 30m in height have been conducted to investigate the flow characteristics of solid-liquid mixture in a lifting pipe and to acquire the design data for sea tests that will be performed in the future. From the results, it was observed that the more the discharged volume fraction and the solid diameter increase, the more the hydraulic gradient increases. Also, the more the diameter of the lifting pipe increases, the smaller the friction loss, and consequently, the less pressure drop and hydraulic gradient. From the enlarged hydraulic pumping experiments, it was shown that the results of the experiments were matched with those of the numerical model previously developed. On the bases of these studies, we plan to conduct further experiments and validate the hydraulic pumping model.