Influence of regional and local topography on the distribution of polymetallic nodules in Central Indian Ocean Basin

Abstract

Detailed bathymetric surveys from part of the Central Indian Ocean revealed several bathymetric features such as hills, slopes, valleys, and plains. Areas with a local relief of a few to hundreds of meters generally have a high abundance of polymetallic nodules with a patchy distribution. Areas with less relief have lesser abundance but a regular distribution. North-south topographic profiles have a smoother sea floor than the east-west ones. Near the minor faults, the abundance is high. Mn, Ni, Mn/Fe levels are higher in the plain areas, and rough terrains have high Fe, Co and low Mn/Fe levels