『Abstract
The distribution of ferromanganese nodules in the Pacific Ocean
has been determined from bottom photographs, taken at about 2.500
stations, and from sediment cores. Nodule coverage of the seafloor
is variable, as much as 75% at a single photographic station for
which 850 photos were taken over a distance of approximately 2.5
km. The average nodule coverage for each of the 2,500 stations,
however, indicates high seafloor coverage in the following five
large areas: (1) between the Clarion and Clipperton Fracture Zones
in the Northeast Pacific Basin extending westward into the northern
area of the Central Pacific Basin; (2) the area of the Musicians
Seamounts also in the Northeast Pacific Basin; (3) the central
part of the Southwest Pacific Basin; (4) an east-west trending
belt in the southern ocean along 60゜S at the Antarctic convergence;
and (5) the northern part of the Peru Basin. This pattern correlates
strongly with that of the sediment lithology and sediment accumulation
rates. With a few notable exceptions, nodules tend to be restricted
in their occurrence to areas of either pelagic clay or biosiliceous
clay/ooze, and to areas exhibiting sedimentation rates less than
approximately 5 mm/1,000 years. Their occurrence may also be governed
by the abyssal circulation of the Pacific. 』
With 4 Figures and 2 Plates an Appendix
Zusammenfassung
Introduction
Procedures
Discussion
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References cited