FSUE VNIIOkeangeologia named after I. S. Gramberg:

A. V. Kondratenko, Senior Researcher, e-mail: kondr@vniio.nw.ru

The current preparatory works for the exploitation of the deposits of deep-water ferromanganese nodules create a necessity of studying the engineering and geological conditions of their development. One of the major parts of the engineering and geological conditions are the physical and mechanical properties of sea bottom formations which determine the methods of excavating the ferromanganese nodules (FMN). In this article, as an example of the Clarion-Clipperton ore province (the Pacific Ocean), there are given the results of the studies of physical and mechanical properties of sea bottom deposits, magmatic material (basalts) and ferromanganese nodules. On the basis of the engineering and geological stratification of the sea bottom deposits, there is presented the heterogeneity of engineering and geological conditions of FMN occurrence. It is determined by weak bottom sediments enclosing and underlaying the FMN deposits on the one hand. On the other hand – by the rise of the bottom surface of more stronger pre-Quaternary sediments and magmatic rocks. The rises of the pre-Quaternary bottom sediments and magmatic rocks are concidered as the impediments to the operation of the equipment, used for collecting the FMN on the bottom surface and provoking the possible emergency situations.

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