Grains of Nonferrous and Noble Metals in Iron–Manganese Formations and Igneous Rocks of Submarine Elevations of the Sea of Japan

Iron–manganese formations and igneous rocks of submarine elevations in the Sea of Japan contain overlapping mineral phases (grains) with quite identical morphology, localization, and chemical composition. Most of the grains conform to oxides, intermetallic compounds, native elements, sulfides, and sulfates in terms of the set of nonferrous, noble, and certain other metals (Cu, Zn, Sn, Pb, Ni, Mo, Ag, Pd, and Pt). The main conclusion that postvolcanic hydrothermal fluids are the key sources of metals is based upon a comparison of the data of electron microprobe analysis of iron–manganese formations and igneous rocks dredged at the same submarine elevations in the Sea of Japan.