Large philipsite crystal as ferromanganese nodule nucleus

Abstract

We report here the occurrence of, to date, the largest (21 x 10 x 8 mm) phillipsite crystal forming the nucleus of a diagenetically formed ferromanganese nodule from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). Assuming an average rate of ferromanganese nodule accretion as approximately 2 mm/Ma and that of phillipsite growth as approximately 0.65 mm/Ka, the nucleus material appears to have been growing for approximately 4.5-5 Ma. Originally surfaced as a rock fragment from late Miocene volcanism, this nucleus was later altered to phillipsite under alkaline, silica-undersaturated, low-temperature conditions through the length of the Neogene sedimentary hiatus