An appraisal of an iterative construction of the endmembers controlling the composition of deep-sea manganese nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

This paper describes an estimation of endmember compositions followed by the assessment of those results by log-ratio variance analysis. As an appraisal, it deals only with the first objective of an endmember analysis namely, to identify endmembers if they exist by estimating their compositions. Fol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Earth System Science 2014-08, Vol.123 (6), p.1399-1411
Main Authors: Renner, R M, Nath, B N, Glasby, G P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Analysis
Clay minerals
Composition
Computation
Copper
Deep sea
Deep water
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Economic analysis
Estimation
Ferromanganese nodules
Geochemistry
Iron
Iterative methods
Magnesium
Manganese
Manganese nodules
Marine
Nodules
Ocean basins
Oceanography
Oceans
Sea nodules
Space Exploration and Astronautics
Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
Ultramafic materials
Variance analysis
Zinc
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Summary:This paper describes an estimation of endmember compositions followed by the assessment of those results by log-ratio variance analysis. As an appraisal, it deals only with the first objective of an endmember analysis namely, to identify endmembers if they exist by estimating their compositions. Following the creation of the endmember estimates, the computation of an array of log-ratio variances was a key innovation in this type of study. Log-ratio variances revealed intrinsic linear associations between the dominant elements on each of the estimated endmember compositions, largely confirming the endmember analysis. The dataset under study contained the concentrations of 16 elements in 93 samples of deep-sea manganese nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin. Many previous analyses of these nodules were undertaken to assess the economic potential of the deposits. This study by contrast, quantified the inter-element associations that account for the nodule compositions. Four endmembers were identified. The elements loaded on each were: (1) Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Mn-rich, (2) Fe, Ti, P, Co, Fe-rich, (3) Si, Al, Na, K, clay minerals, (3) Mg, ultramafic material, possibly including Mn, Cr, V, Ca, Na. These latter elements were also detected by their log-ratio variances to be associated with Mg on the 4th endmember.
ISSN:0253-4126
0973-774X
DOI:10.1007/s12040-014-0469-1