Abyssal Manganese Nodule Recording of Global Cooling and Tibetan Plateau Uplift Impacts on Asian Aridification

Abstract

The impact of central Asian aridification on the low latitude North Pacific Ocean since the late Miocene remains unclear. To address this question, we systematically studied an abyssal manganese nodule from the northwestern Pacific Ocean, which is expected to be sensitive to eolian dust sourced from central Asia. Geochemical variations and the fossilized remains of magnetotactic bacteria within the studied nodule manifest two prominent Asian aridification events at ∼8–7 Ma and 3.6–0 Ma. These results suggest that central Asian aridification impacted both primary productivity and abyssal microbial activity in the NW Pacific Ocean via eolian dust inputs. In contrast to the Pliocene aridification event, the late Miocene event was associated with a primary productivity bloom that is not evident in coeval global primary productivity records, which indicates that the ∼8–7 Asian aridification event was likely due to NE Tibetan Plateau uplift rather than to global cooling.

Rotation of a Ferromanganese Nodule in the Penrhyn Basin, South Pacific, Tracked by the Earth's Magnetic Field

“…For marine ferromanganese crusts, it has been shown that 10 Be chronology is consistent with the magnetostratigraphic dating (Noguchi et al., 2017; Oda et al., 2011, 2020; Yuan et al., 2017). Although, nodule growth is neither regular nor continuous, and diagenetic parts grow faster than hydrogenetic ones (Verlaan & Cronan, 2022), 10 Be chronology could provide a reasonable and continuous age model based on Bayesian modeling in combination with Co‐chronology (Jiang et al., 2022). Yi et al.…”

Characterization of Submicron‐Thick Layered Structure in Hydrogenetic Ferromanganese Nodule Suggests Short‐Term Redox Fluctuation of Paleo‐Ocean

“…The characteristics of SMLs (e.g., mineralogical and chemical compositions, and Mn oxidation state) and textures of the whole Fe-Mn nodules, provide a new perspective to learn the oceanic redox environment (Figure 7). At present, isotope geochemistry and magnetic are the most widely used methods to study paleoceanography (Jiang et al, 2021(Jiang et al, , 2022Josso et al, 2021;Sutherland et al, 2020). For example, according to the magnetic and geochemical data of Fe-Mn nodules from the Pacific Ocean, central Asian aridification at ∼8-7 Ma was mainly forced by Tibetan Plateau uplift rather than global cooling, with global cooling providing the driver of central Asian aridification since 3.6 Ma (Jiang et al, 2022).…”

“…At present, isotope geochemistry and magnetic are the most widely used methods to study paleoceanography (Jiang et al, 2021(Jiang et al, , 2022Josso et al, 2021;Sutherland et al, 2020). For example, according to the magnetic and geochemical data of Fe-Mn nodules from the Pacific Ocean, central Asian aridification at ∼8-7 Ma was mainly forced by Tibetan Plateau uplift rather than global cooling, with global cooling providing the driver of central Asian aridification since 3.6 Ma (Jiang et al, 2022). Sutherland et al (2020) used the oxygen isotope in Fe-Mn crusts to estimate the marine dissolved oxygen, providing insight into the balance of global productivity.…”

Bioleaching of oceanic manganese nodules: Current progress and future prospects

“…These minerals exist in the ocean depths as nodules, micro agglomerates, coatings, and crusts but are difficult to mine and high‐grade deposits are scarce 5 . In addition, manganese is present in various forms such as nodules, micro‐agglomerates, coatings, and crusts in the deep‐sea environment 6 . The demand for manganese has been on a global rise due to its utility in diverse industrial applications including ferromanganese alloys for steel manufacturing, non‐ferrous alloys, food additives, fertilizers, dry cells, and inorganic chemicals 7 …”

“…deep-sea environment. 6 The demand for manganese has been on a global rise due to its utility in diverse industrial applications including ferromanganese alloys for steel manufacturing, non-ferrous alloys, food additives, fertilizers, dry cells, and inorganic chemicals. 7 Scientific researchers have made significant efforts to extract manganese from low-grade pyrolusite.…”