Composite and disaggregated maps as preliminary aids to analysis of manganese nodule geochemistry

Abstract

Introduction 1 Overview of manganese nodules Purpose 1 Acknowledgements 2 Data description 2 Original data 2 Gridding 2 Statistical summary 2 Pre-selected model areas 3 Spatial distributions 4 Composite maps 4 Disaggregated maps 4 Maps and comments 4 Two selected case studies 48 Cobalt 48 Nickel 48 Conclusions 48 References 49 characteristics are mapped as grey-levels in both disaggregated and conventional composite form. Class number ranges are used instead of actual weight-percent in order to facilitate comparisons between variables. For multiple variable comparisons, the disaggregated maps, one for each concentration range in its companion composite map, reduce the likelihood of "next-step" investigation of apparently rich targets that are truly barren, and provide greater facility in correlating the variables with geological and geochemical features than conventional composite maps alone.