AGE OF THE RADIOLARIA FROM FERROMANGANESE NODULES OF THE CLARION-CLIPPERTON PROVINCE (THE PACIFIC-OCEAN) AND THE PROBLEM OF THE NODULES UNSINKABILITY

The radiolaria were studied in 19 manganese nodules. The nodules were elevated from the surface of the thin Quaternary sediments which covered the Tertiary deposits (Middle Eocene-Early Miocene). The radiolarians in the nodules cores, as well as in the inner and surface layers were researched. There were found 85 radiolarian species and groups of species. Usually 1 - 4 radiolarian species (in a few cases 6 - 19 species) were detected in each of samples. There were found the Middle Eocene, Late Eocene-Early Oligocene, Oligocene, and Oligocene-Early Early Miocene species. Rare Neogene species were revealed only in crevassed surface layers. The nodules age is mainly Oligocene. It is possible to consume that because of high seismicity of the region the seismic waves cause sediment vibration, loosing, suspending and outcarring of the suspended matter by the bottom currents. Due to the vibration effect the ancient nodules can turn out on the surface of the Quaternary sediment. So, this is one reason of the regional hiatus, the nodules ''unsinkability'' and accumulation of the residual field of the ancient nodules on the bottom surface.