Boreskov

PP‐29are combine nodules forming an incrustation on worms‐mudeaters excrements and tracks,on fish teeth, on whale helixes and auditory ossicles. Occurrences of microflora remains withlayered localization are testified about active participation of microbiological processes inferromanganese nodules formation. Microorganisms can to live on the nodules surface andcreate superstructure accumulating Fe‐Mn oxides. It was mentioned that nodule layers withnumerous organic remains are grow faster. On the pictures you can see planktonic remainsfound abundantly at the inner parts of nodules both Baltic and Pacific. Often we can observereplacing of this remains by Mn oxides in the form of covering films.Uncrystalline phases of Mn oxides are one of the most common minerals in theferromanganese nodules. Our investigations show that these phases are represented bymineralized glycocalyx. We diagnosed this phase as todorokite on the basis of results ofhigh‐temperature transformation experiments.We found numerous examples of rod‐shapedand fusiform bacteria in Mn oxides of in the ferromanganese nodules.Remains of bacterial structures consisting of mineralized glycocalyx are the typicalstructure forms of uncrystalline fine‐dispersed Mn oxides. Nano‐dimentionality of Mn oxidesmay be connected with the fact that they are products of vital functions of cyanobacteriaethat are forming around covers of Mn‐rich components. Nanostructures of Mn oxides arefibrous aggregates.In the ore zones the ferromanganese nodules we found inclusions of native metals. Innodule samples inclusions of copper‐red and brass‐yellow metal formations in the form ofplates, flakes, dendrites were determined as native copper and intermetallic compounds ofcopper and zinc (brass‐yellow grains). Infrequently we met iron‐copper compounds andnative iron. Besides this we found single grains of native aluminium and zinc. Sulfideminerals in nodules (pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, troilite, covellite, bornite) arecommonly associate with organic remains and forms as a result of appearance of reductionmicrocenters because of bacterial activity. Presence of nickel minerals in the nodules(buzerite, taenite, niccolite, violarite) is connected with the biochemical processes of organicmatter transformation.At the inner parts of Baltic nodules the inclusions of pyrite, monazite, zircon and thoritehave been found.Increased contents of some radioactive elements in nodules permit us to consider theseformations as good adsorbents and to use them for the water purification.Работа выполнена при поддержке программ Президиума РАН 09‐П‐5‐1022, НШ7198.2010.5185