Integrated Geochemical Investigations on Fe-Mn Nodules, Polymetallic Sulfides and Fe-Mn Oxides Recovered from Marine Sediments of Carlsberg Ridge, Northwest Indian Ocean

Abstract

The research and exploration of submarine minerals have increased exponentially due to the requirement for rare and critical metals (cobalt, silver, platinum) as additional supplements to the gradually depleting terrestrial metal source. Manganese nodules, Fe-Mn oxides and polymetallic sulfides represent the most important source of these aforementioned critical metals. This paper highlight the results of the integrated studies on recovered minerals grains (e.g., Fe-Mn nodules, Fe-Mn oxide crusts and polymetallic sulfides) from marine sediments of the Carlsberg Ridge (CR), Northwest Indian Ocean.