Critical metals such as cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and rare earth elements (REEs) are highly concentrated in deep-sea sediments, particularly in ferromanganese deposits, mainly due to low sedimentation rate and low detrital input. The deep-sea water-sediment interface constitutes a pivotal area for the biogeochemical cycling and depositional processes of critical metal elements. However, the behavior of critical metals at the deep seawater-sediment interface is complicated by global or regional environmental factors, such as encompassing changes in productivity, redox alterations, ocean current dynamics, volcanism-hydrothermalism, tectonic activity.A comprehensive understanding of the migration of critical metals between seawater and pore water, their accumulation and occurrence characteristics in solid mineral resources and sediments, as well as their preservation status holds paramount significance in systematically elucidating the formation mechanism of solid minerals and accurately interpreting paleoenvironmental records. Exploring the deposition and enrichment of critical metals in the deep sea through the lens of biogeochemical cycles and global change is poised to yield significant scientific insights.The focus of this Research Topic is to study critical metals across the marine environment, encompassing seawater, pore water, and deep-sea sediments, to explore the behavior of the elements in seawater, seafloor deposition and enrichment processes, and their constraints on global change.This Research Topic calls for original and novel papers that explore biogeochemical cycling and depositional processes of critical elements in the deep sea and their constraints on global changes. We invite submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:1. The trace metal distributions in the water column, at the seawater-sediment interface, and within sediments reveal elemental biogeochemical behavior in the ocean. 2. Polymetallic ferromanganese depositional profiles record critical metal enrichment processes in a long-period, changing environment.3. Deep-sea sediments and ferromanganese deposits are important elemental and isotopic archives that record important global change events. 4. Deep-sea sedimentation in response to bottom current including Antarctic Bottom Water.5. Biomineralization processes and seafloor metals deposition.
Critical metals such as cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and rare earth elements (REEs) are highly concentrated in deep-sea sediments, particularly in ferromanganese deposits, mainly due to low sedimentation rate and low detrital input. The deep-sea water-sediment interface constitutes a pivotal area for the biogeochemical cycling and depositional processes of critical metal elements. However, the behavior of critical metals at the deep seawater-sediment interface is complicated by global or regional environmental factors, such as encompassing changes in productivity, redox alterations, ocean current dynamics, volcanism-hydrothermalism, tectonic activity.A comprehensive understanding of the migration of critical metals between seawater and pore water, their accumulation and occurrence characteristics in solid mineral resources and sediments, as well as their preservation status holds paramount significance in systematically elucidating the formation mechanism of solid minerals and accurately interpreting paleoenvironmental records. Exploring the deposition and enrichment of critical metals in the deep sea through the lens of biogeochemical cycles and global change is poised to yield significant scientific insights.The focus of this Research Topic is to study critical metals across the marine environment, encompassing seawater, pore water, and deep-sea sediments, to explore the behavior of the elements in seawater, seafloor deposition and enrichment processes, and their constraints on global change.This Research Topic calls for original and novel papers that explore biogeochemical cycling and depositional processes of critical elements in the deep sea and their constraints on global changes. We invite submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:1. The trace metal distributions in the water column, at the seawater-sediment interface, and within sediments reveal elemental biogeochemical behavior in the ocean. 2. Polymetallic ferromanganese depositional profiles record critical metal enrichment processes in a long-period, changing environment.3. Deep-sea sediments and ferromanganese deposits are important elemental and isotopic archives that record important global change events. 4. Deep-sea sedimentation in response to bottom current including Antarctic Bottom Water.5. Biomineralization processes and seafloor metals deposition.