Geologists surmise the thickest and most metal-rich ferromanganese crusts are found at depths between 800 and 2500m on seamount flanks and summits. This is due to the co-occurrence of more chemically available metal sources caused by the OMZ, higher flows of water over the rocks where the deposits form, and stronger currents that can remove sediments.
Metal-rich Femn Crusts
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2015 Hohonu Moana. Download larger version (jpg, 431 KB).

Figure 2. Geologists surmise the thickest and most metal-rich ferromanganese crusts are found at depths between 800 and 2500m on seamount flanks and summits. This is due to the co-occurrence of more chemically available metal sources caused by the OMZ, higher flows of water over the rocks where the deposits form, and stronger currents that can remove sediments.

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