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Deep Ocean Manganese (Polymetallic) Nodules

Manganese nodules, also known as Polymetallic nodules, are rock concretions formed on the deep ocean floor by the gradual build-up of layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a central core. The nodules can be found in vast quantities, and can contain valuable metals, which has made them of interest to mining companies.

Nodules vary in size from microscopic particles to large specimens measuring more than 20 centimetres across, although most are about the size of a golf ball. The nodule surface texture varies from smooth to rough, but many  frequently have a knobbly appearance. Due to being  buried in the sediment, the bottom of each nodule is rougher than the top.

All of the nodules offered on this page were collected in 1979 by the Glomar Explorer, a ship constructed on the orders of Howard Hughes, and made famous for being used by the CIA in 1974 to recover parts of the sunken Soviet nuclear submarine K-129.

In late 1979, OMCO (Oceans Mineral Company), a consortium of several mining companies and Lockheed Martin, commissioned the ship for experimental mining of manganese nodules from the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (below) located three miles deep in the north-east Pacific Ocean. The nodules were collected by a 2,000 tonne hydraulic platform known as the ‘claw’ that was lowered from the Glomar Explorer to the ocean floor. Upon contact with the sea bed the fingers of the claw would close, scooping up a large volume of material. Various stages of filtering removed much of the sediment and sea-life, resulting in hundreds of tonnes of nodules being collectable in a 12 hour period. Despite this apparent success, the process was deemed to be commercially unviable and all intensive mining of the area ceased. The location from which this nodule was collected has not been revisited since the Glomar Explorer expedition of 1979 and is currently outside the area so far licensed for possible future mining.


  • All orders come with a full colour ID card displaying much of the above information
  • Manganese Nodule field dust

    • Each vial contains dust and sediment collected during the processing of large specimens. 
    • Can be used for chemical studies, interesting jewelry, even security ink as the material has a distinct chemical make-up.
    • Vial filled to the bottom of the label.
    • £
    • In stock
  • Manganese fragments in small vial

    • A small vial containing fragments of nodules. 
    • Specimens measure a few mm in diameter.
    • £
    • In stock
  • Manganese peas in medium vial

    • Pea sized manganese nodule fragments in a vial. The same sort of material as shown above but of a larger particle size.
    • £
    • In stock
  • Small Manganese Nodule x5

    • Sorted by size, this and the following specimens are increasingly large pieces of manganese nodule. 
    • Each purchase is for Five pieces.
    • The white specimen label seen in the image is ~6cm wide. 
    • £
    • In stock
  • Medium Manganese Nodule x3

    • Sorted by size, these are medium pieces of manganese nodule. 
    • Each purchase is for THREE pieces. 
    • The white specimen label seen in the image is ~6cm wide. 
    • £
    • In stock
  • Large Manganese Nodule x2

    • Sorted by size, these are larger pieces of manganese nodule. 
    • Each purchase is for TWO pieces. 
    • The white specimen label seen in the image is ~6cm wide. 
    • £
    • In stock
  • Manganese Nodule Display Case medium

    • A collection of 8 small manganese nodules fragments in a 6x4 cm display case. 
    • £
    • In stock
  • Manganese Nodule Display case large

    • A collection of 4 medium and 4 small nodule fragments in an 8x6 cm display case.
    • £
    • In stock
  • Grade A Manganese nodule

    • Essentially complete specimen with most of the outer shell intact. 
    • Rare in this quality due to the fragile nature of the nodules and the processing they originally when being mined in 1979.
    • Housed in a presentation box as shown.
    • £
    • In stock

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