Cape Leeuwin Manganese Nodule Deposit Study from 1976 Cruise

Preliminary studies of the Cape Leeuwin manganese nodule deposit off Western Australia document a 1976 research cruise on HMAS Diamantina. The cruise sampled about 2000 nodules from 8 stations to study their chemistry and mineralogy. The data originates from the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated on 2026-04-10.

Use Cases

• Analyze the distribution and extent of ferromanganese nodules based on the described 900,000 km² deposit area.
• Study the influence of bottom currents on nodule formation based on documented ripple marks and disconformities.
• Model low sedimentation rates in the region based on evidence of strong past and present currents.
• Investigate the mineralogy and chemistry of manganese nodules based on the 1976 sampling cruise objectives.

Strengths

• Dataset is based on a dedicated 10-day research cruise with 8 successful sampling stations.
• Approximately 2000 nodules were recovered for analysis, providing a physical sample base.
• The deposit area is described as covering nearly 900,000 km², indicating a large-scale feature.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Positioning was by celestial navigation with potential errors up to 10 km, affecting spatial accuracy.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Sampling via light box dredge during a 1976 research cruise on HMAS Diamantina.

Time Range

1976

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 21:29:13.846604; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Indian Ocean southwest of Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia.