The Deep-sea Manganiferous Muds

Abstract

IN the very interesting Address delivered by Sir C. Wyville Thomson, at Glasgow, on the Challenger expedition, while referring to the “red clay” deposit so general over the deepest parts of the Atlantic and North Pacific, the remarkable fact is mentioned that the clay contains numerous nodules of peroxide of manganese, which in some places are found in great quantity.¹ The Address goes on to say:—“This is a phenomenon which we are as yet unable to explain, and I do not know that there is any analogous instance in any of the older formations” (NATURE, vol. xiv., p. 494).