Identification of factors and conditions potentially responsible for the buried nodules occurrence in the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone (NE Pacific)

Polymetallic nodules for two decades been subject to prospecting and exploration studies carried out by the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization in the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone where its exploration area is subsequently allocated under the contract with the International Seabed Authority. However, the phenomenon of buried nodules, occurring at 8 - 45 cm in the sediment depth was for the first time recorded during the IOM'2001 and IOM'2004 at-seagoing works within the entire sector B-2 of the exploration area. The presence of both surface and buried nodules were found at 59 stations sampling by boxcorer, which comprise about 22.6% of all sampled stations performed during that studies. This paper summarizes the distribution pattern, abundance, types, and chemical composition of buried nodules as well as defines some of the factors and conditions potentially responsible for their origin in the IOM contract area.