The extent of racemization of isoleucine and aspartic acid has been measured on cetacean ear bones from the center of 8 manganese nodules in order to estimate the ages of the nuclei of the nodules and the rates of accretion of ferromanganese oxide layers. Age estimates obtained range from about 0.4 to 6 m.y., and rates of growth from <1 to about 10 mm/m.y. These rates are consistent with those obtained by other nucleus dating methods (K-Ar and fission track) and by layer dating methods (230Th, 231Pd, 10Be and 26Al).

The analysed manganese accumulation was seperated by sonication in 1N HCl and dissolved in 10N HCl. The dried residue was then hydrolysed in 6N HCl for 20 hours at 110°C. Amino acids were finally eluded with 2N NH4OH.From 1983 until 1989 NOAA-NCEI compiled the NOAA-MMS Marine Minerals Geochemical Database from journal articles, technical reports and unpublished sources from other institutions. At the time it was the most extended data compilation on ferromanganese deposits world wide. Initially published in a proprietary format incompatible with present day standards it was jointly decided by AWI and NOAA to transcribe this legacy data into PANGAEA. This transfer is augmented by a careful checking of the original sources when available and the encoding of ancillary information (sample description, method of analysis...) not present in the NOAA-MMS database.

Supplement to: Kvenvolden, Keith A; Blunt, David J (1979): Amino Acid Dating of Bone Nuclei in Manganese Nodules from the North Pacific Ocean. In: Bischoff J.L., Piper D.Z. (eds) Marine Geology and Oceanography of the Pacific Manganese Nodule Province, Springer, Boston, MS, ISBN 978-1-4684-3518-4, Marine Sciences, 9, 763-774