Precious and nonferrous metals in the ferromanganese crusts of the central Sea of Okhotsk.

Abstract

Fine mineral grains of nonferrous and precious metals (Ag, Au, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn, Sb, Ti, W, Mo, and Ce) were revealed for the first time by SEM and microprobe studies of polished sections of iron-manganese crusts from the Sea of Okhotsk. The metals form native and intermetallic compounds; less frequently they form mineral oxides or sulfides. A conclusion was drawn that the main part of the native minerals represents mechanical admixture in the ferromanganese crusts.