Elucidating the Origin of the "Fifth Submarine Mineral Resource" by Re-Os Analysis and Statistical Analysis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22333
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0202:Condensed matter physics, plasma science, nuclear engineering, earth resources engineering, energy engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: Chiba Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Yano Moei 千葉工業大学, 次世代海洋資源研究センター, 主任研究員 (30880281)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 黒色頁岩 / 黒色泥 / 海底鉱物資源 / Re-Os分析 / 多変量解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I examined the appropriate acid decomposition conditions for simple Rhenium-Osmium (Re-Os) analysis using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and revealed that it is necessary to consider the acid used for the decomposition according to the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) of the sample. I conducted Re-Os analysis of sediments from the Cariaco Basin, where anoxic water masses develop, and investigated the relationship between Re concentration, Re concentration and TOC, suggesting that adsorption on organic matter is an important mechanism for Re accumulation in these sediments. Independent component analysis was performed on the chemical composition data set of black muds and black shales, and eight independent components were extracted. Among them, three components were interpreted as redox-related.

Free Research Field

地球資源学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，有機物に富む堆積物のRe-Os分析について，酸分解に用いる酸の量と種類を変えて実験を行った．本研究で得られたデータは黒色泥，黒色頁岩のRe-Os分析を行う上で重要であるため，学術的意義が大きいと考えられる．
また，従来の黒色泥・黒色頁岩の化学組成データセットについて独立成分分析を行い，抽出された8つの成分のうち，3つを酸化還元鋭敏元素の濃集に関するものであると解釈した．これは資源生成に関わるレアメタル元素濃集のメカニズム解明のために重要な情報であり，社会的意義のある成果が得られたと考えられる．