Mineralogical and Chemical Composition of Co-rich Manganese Crusts from the Govorov and Volcanologist Guyots of the Magellan Seamounts Pacific Ocean
Cobalt-rich manganese crusts (CMC) of Govorov and Volcanolog guyots of Magellan seamounts (Pacific Ocean) are the same type and consist of three layers: I-1, II, III and “dried crust” variety of the layer III. It has been shown the texture-structural features similarities within individual layers of the crusts. The main ore minerals of CMC are poorly crystallized with a low degree of structural ordering Fe-vernadite and Mn-feroxyhyte; well-crystallized and structurally ordered vernadite contained in a smaller amount. It is found that the cations (Co, Ni, Cu), rare and rare earth elements are concentrated in the ore minerals irregularly, indicating its abrupt supply at different geological stages.