Biomineralization in Pelagic Manganese Nodules from the East Pacific Ocean

摘要

The electron microscopic studies have revealed that (he manganese nodules from the East Pacific Ocean are biogenie constructions fomied by (lie ultra-microbes, namely Spirisosphaerospora pacifica and Miniactino-myces chinensis. Based on contrast analysis of TEM images of the ultra-niicrofossils, it has been found that the nutrient hyphae of the ultra- microbes are more intensively mineralized than the generative ones and the root parts of the hyphae are more intensively mineralized than the tips of the hyphae. Both ferro-rmniganese mineralization and live nodule formation took place simultaneously. The manganese uodules suffer neither substitution nor replacement, 'flic continuous rhythmic growth of hyphae results in the formation of manganese stromatolites, i.e. manganese uodules. Consequently, the ultra-microbes cue the constructors of thepelagic manganese nodules.