Rare Earth Content of Manganese Nodules in the Lockheed Martin Clarion-Clipperton Zone Exploration Areas

摘要

Lockheed Martin has conducted an analysis of the rare earth content of Clarion-Clipperton Zone (mid-Pacific) manganese nodules using samples from its archive from the 1970s/1980s. The rare earth content of these manganese nodules is economically significant, and essentially uniform over large areas. Additionally, manganese nodules have low thorium and uranium content relative to land based rare earth ores, and therefore may provide an inherently environmentally cleaner and economical source for rare earths.