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

Two manganese nodules with specific metal contents (Ni 0.25%, Cu 0.17%, Co 0.06%) were recovered during a 1979 geological cruise aboard HMAS Kimble. The Australian Ocean Data Network provides this data from five stations in the southern Tasman Sea, with samples including reddish brown clay, grey calcareous mud, and pumice. The results suggest high-value nodules likely exist only in a specific deep depression southeast of Gascoyne Seamount.

Use Cases

• Modeling manganese nodule distribution based on depth and sediment type mentioned in the description
• Analyzing the relationship between metal content (Ni, Cu, Co) and Mn:Fe ratios in nodules
• Studying sediment composition variation across the carbonate compensation depth (approx. 4500 m)
• Mapping potential nodule fields in the southern Tasman Sea based on described sampling locations

Strengths

• Provides specific geochemical measurements for two nodules (Ni 0.25%, Cu 0.17%, Co 0.06%)
• Includes detailed sampling context: five stations, depths from 4300m to 5100m, and precise location near Gascoyne Seamount
• Data originates from a documented geological cruise (HMAS Kimble, May 1979)

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Data may reflect geographic/temporal bias inherent to a single 1979 cruise

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

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

Time Range

May 1979

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-28 12:45:58.439752; freshness should be verified

Geography

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