Ocean manganese nodules as stromatolite with a fractal like-signature

• Mn nodules showed stromatolite structures and mineralized bacteria on the surface.
• Surface morphology could be described as having a fractal-like nature.
• Mathematical simulation based on fractal models reproduced similar characteristics.
• Our hypothesis is that Mn nodules are stromatolite aggregate with fractal nature.
• The Mn- and Fe-oxide etc. may become absorbers of strategic and toxic metals.

Deep-sea manganese (Mn) nodules are problematic in terms of factors such as their characteristic form and genesis. There are many reports of bacterial species from manganese nodules. However, the genesis of these nodules has not been fully confirmed. Samples, mainly from the Clarion Clipperton Fracture zone in the Pacific Ocean, were examined by mineralogical methods and X-ray CT. Thin sections of these samples showed columnar stromatolite structures with rhythmic bands. Mineralized bacteria were observed by SEM and TEM. Surface morphology could be described as having a fractal-like nature. The fractal characteristics of spherical to dome-like forms were fundamentally composed of at least four ranks. The 4th order form corresponds to the stromatolite dome top shapes. Similar granular domain units and porous characteristics in manganese nodules were clearly observed by X-ray CT sections. Mathematical simulation based on fractal models reproduced similar morphological characteristics to the natural samples. So, we arrived at the concluding hypothesis that manganese nodules are aggregated stromatolite with fractal-like characteristics. Furthermore, we discussed the possibility that the nature of the layer manganese oxide minerals as the major component of the nodule and associated Fe-oxyhydroxide minerals may become an absorber/scavenger of strategic heavy metals and also toxic metals in the environments.