Analyses reveal rich seabed minerals

Bjørn Rasen

The NPD’s chemical analyses of sulphides and manganese crusts from the NCS show high concentrations of copper, zinc and cobalt.

While the sulphides mostly contain iron, they also have a relatively high content of copper (up to 14 per cent in some samples), zinc (three per cent) and cobalt (below one per cent).

These are important metals at a time when society is making increasing use of electricity, while also being in demand by industry.

Concentrations of metals in sulphides and manganese crusts from the NCS are higher than for samples collected in other parts of the world.

Seabed minerals are known to be present in the deeper parts of the Norwegian Sea. The NPD has been charged with mapping their extent and systematising data from collected samples.

A number of sulphide and manganese crust deposits have been identified, most recently during the NPD’s expedition in the summer of 2018.

The sulphides are found along the volcanic Mohns Ridge between Jan Mayen and Bear Island. Manganese crusts have been proven in several places along the Vøring Spur and around Jan Mayen.

Manganese crusts in the Norwegian Sea fall into two groups. One contains roughly twice the amount of REEs as samples from the Pacific and other Atlantic sources, the other has less.

Both groups hold considerably more lithium (20-80 times as much) and scandium (four-seven times). All these elements are metals with important roles to play in the green shift.