Deep-Sea Sediments and Manganese Nodules from the Southern Tasman Sea, 1979

Two manganese nodules and associated sediment samples were collected during a 1979 geological cruise aboard HMAS Kimble in the southern Tasman Sea. The dataset likely contains geochemical and location data from five sampling stations, with depths ranging from 4300 to 5100 meters. The data was contributed by the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Use Cases

• Analyze the relationship between nodule composition and ocean depth based on the described depth ranges of 4300-5100 m.
• Model the distribution of valuable metals like nickel, copper, and cobalt based on the provided sample percentages.
• Investigate sediment types and the carbonate compensation depth based on the described recovery of reddish brown clay and grey calcareous mud.
• Identify potential nodule field locations based on the inferred conditions of low sedimentation and oxidizing environments.

Strengths

• Provides specific geochemical data for two nodules, including Ni (0.25%), Cu (0.17%), and Co (0.06%) content.
• Includes precise geographic context with sampling locations near Gascoyne Seamount and depth information for multiple stations.
• Documents a clear temporal context from a specific research cruise in May 1979.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset's scale is limited, based on a short cruise with samples from only five stations.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Samples recovered using free-fall grabs during a geological cruise on HMAS Kimble.

Time Range

May 1979

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-16 08:37:30.499053; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southern Tasman Sea, specifically near Gascoyne Seamount (250 nautical miles SE of Sydney).