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Model of Tertiary Phosphorites on the World’s Continental Margins

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Marine Minerals

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 194))

Abstract

Shallow subsurface Tertiary sediments of mid-latitude, modern continental margins of the world contain a tremendously extensive and poorly known Neogene sediment sequence that has a high theoretical potential for containing major deposits of unconsolidated phosphate sediments. Reworked phosphates occurring in thin, Holocene surface sediments are important tracers for these shelf deposits which may crop out or more commonly occur in the shallow subsurface. This hypothesis should be tested by combining techniques of high-resolution seismics with detailed networks of vibracores on continental shelf areas with anomalous phosphate concentrations in the surface sediments. Ultimately, deeper core drilling is required to adequately understand the third dimension. Future mining and production will undoubtedly combine existing technology from the offshore petroleum industry with new technology being developed within the mineral industry such as hydraulic slurry mining.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, 27834, USA

    Stanley R. Riggs

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  1. Stanley R. Riggs
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA

    P. G. Teleki

  2. University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK

    M. R. Dobson

  3. University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA

    J. R. Moore

  4. Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Hannover, Germany

    U. von Stackelberg

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© 1987 D. Reidel Publishing Company

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Riggs, S.R. (1987). Model of Tertiary Phosphorites on the World’s Continental Margins. In: Teleki, P.G., Dobson, M.R., Moore, J.R., von Stackelberg, U. (eds) Marine Minerals. NATO ASI Series, vol 194. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3803-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3803-8_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8192-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3803-8

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