Strategic Objectives
• Master the microscopic layering and concentric growth patterns of nodules.
• Understand the chemical zoning that dictates mineral concentration.
• Discover the biogenic and hydrogenetic processes driving nodule morphology.
• Learn how individual mineral units reveal the history of our oceans.
The Core Challenge
Deep-sea mining often treats nodules as mere bulk ore, ignoring the complex internal architecture that holds the key to their formation and chemical value.
01
The Individual Nodule
02
Benthic Beginnings
03
The Nucleus
04
Concentric Layering
05
Hydrogenetic Precipitation
06
Diagenetic Processes
07
Manganese Oxides
08
Iron Oxyhydroxides
09
Microbial Influence
10
Chemical Zoning
11
Porosity and Permeability
12
Fracture Mechanics
13
Surface Texture
14
Rare Earth Element Sequestration
15
Micro-X-Ray Analysis
16
Isotopic Dating
17
Mineralogical Phase Changes
18
Sediment Inclusions
19
Hardness and Toughness
20
Comparison with Crusts
21