On the bottom right below the loose covering of
of chert fragments is a thick layer of manganese oxide. Note
that the layers of the chert are significantly thinner above the manganese
layer than those below the layer and shown in
slide
#12. This manganese layer may well have been produced by deep
sea hot springs that were belching out a black, metallic smoke which
settled onto the surrounding deep sea floor. The hot water supplying these
hot springs may be the reason for the alteration of the chert to jasper
that occurs beneath the layer. Note that the dark black stains decrease
as you to to the upper left of the photo.
Additional
information on the origins of the manganese |
