Cape Leeuwin Manganese Nodule Deposit Survey Data

2000 manganese nodules were recovered from the Indian Ocean floor during a 1976 research cruise. This dataset documents a deposit estimated to cover 900,000 km², discovered via bottom photography and sampled by HMAS Diamantina.

Use Cases

• Analyze nodule chemistry and mineralogy from the 2000 recovered samples to characterize deposit composition.
• Map the estimated 900,000 km² spatial extent of the nodule field using station location data.
• Study sediment surface features like ripple marks and disconformities as evidence of historical bottom currents.

Strengths

• Substantial physical sample collection of approximately 2000 nodules.
• Documents a geographically extensive deposit estimated at 900,000 km².
• Data sourced from a dedicated 10-day research cruise (HMAS Diamantina).

Limitations

• Limited spatial precision due to celestial navigation with potential 10 km positioning errors.
• Sample collection from only 8 successful stations may not represent full deposit heterogeneity.
• Data is temporally stale, originating from a 1976 survey.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Sampling via light box dredge during a research cruise; initial discovery via bottom photography.

Time Range

1976 (sampling cruise); initial discovery in 1970.

Freshness

null

Geography

Indian Ocean southwest of Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia.