Marine ferromanganese concretions from the polish exclusive economic zone: Influence of major inflows of north sea water

Abstract

Ferromanganese concretions within the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are found mainly in the depth range 60–70 m on the thresholds between the Bomholm Basin and Slupsk Furrow and between the Gotland and Gdansk Basins. They also occur on elevations of the seafloor within the Bomholm Basin, on the southern slopes of Slupsk Furrow, and on the lower southwestern slopes of the Gotland Basin. They occur mainly as surface deposits on very thin (<0.2 m), poorly sorted lag deposits. The concretions are predominantly discoidal and are formed around a single nucleus of sandstone or erratic rock of variable size. The ferromanganese oxides display internal layering with alternate layers of almost black manganese oxides and buff iron axyhydroxides. The concretions consist mainly of todorokite and quartz, with lesser amounts of feldspar, kaolinite, and montmorillonite. They are characterized by relatively high Fe/Mn ratios (0.9–3.5) and high contents of detrital elements (Ti, Na, K, Ca, and Mg) but low contents of the transition elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Co, and Ni). The deposits are associated with the very dynamic environment near the halocline, where internal waves erode the sediment and create conditions of sediment nondeposition favorable for the formation of the concretions. A number of factors contribute to the high abundance of ferromanganese concretions in the Baltic Sea. One is the high input of iron and manganese by the rivers draining into it This is a consequence of the widespread occurrence of bogs and swamps in the catchment area of the Baltic Sea, which results in the river waters having high humic acid contents and low pH. Another major factor is the buildup of dissolved iron and manganese in the anoxic basins of the Baltic Sea during periods of stagnation. These waters are flushed during major inflow events, when oxygenated water from the North Sea displaces the stagnant waters of the anoxic basins. Iron and manganese in these waters are then transported laterally and deposited in the surface of ferromanganese concretions on topographic highs. We believe that the iron is deposited rapidly after such events but that the manganese is deposited over a much longer time period, thus accounting for the layering in the concretions. The rate of deposition of these elements is essentially controlled by the input of oxygen in the waters of the North Sea. These periods of major inflows are grouped but significant events, for concretions occur on average about 11 times per century. We therefore estimate that the concretions have grown much more slowly than previously thought (about 0.013–0.018 mm/yr), and that a concretion 20 mm in diameter would have an age of about 500–800 years. Higher concentrations of heavy metals have been recorded in the outer layers of the concretions, and it is possible that these can serve as indicators of heavy‐metal pollution in the Baltic Sea. The concretions range from sporadic to intermediate abundance. As such, they have no economic potential.

Keywords:

• Baltic Sea
• ferromanganese concretions
• Polish EEZ