BENTHIC CURRENT DYNAMICS AND SOME FEATURE S OF MANGANESE-NODULE LOCATION IN THE CLARION-CLIPERTON PROVINCE

Data on benthic current measurements obtained by the authors and-in ot her studies are summarized. The features of the hydrodynamics are cons idered as factors affecting significantly the processes of nodule form ation and localization of their deposits. The observed relatively high activity of benthic currents is one of the components of wide-scale a nd durable processes of erosion and relocation of bottom sediments inv olving the major part of the province. The information on near bottom hydro- and lithodynamics is proved to be of a prognostic significance for evaluation of facial zonal distribution of the nodule fields.