Phenomenon of Concretions Occurrence on the Ocean Bottom

Abstract

The paradox of the long-term existence of ferromanganese concretions on the ocean floor is considered. It is known that nodules do not sink in the less dense medium of liquefied sediments and have been located on the bottom surface since their genesis over many thousands or even millions of years. At the same time, river and sea sludge easily sucks up other objects (of the same density), which in some way fall to the bottom. We propose an original mechanism explaining this paradox, which is based on a combination of three physicochemical phenomena.