Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Phosphate in Sediments off South-western Africa

Abstract

RECENT work1 has shown that the unconsolidated sediments of the continental shelf off south-western Africa are considerably enriched in phosphate compared with the values considered usual for clastic sediments (< 0.2% P2O5), and it is interesting that phosphorite still appears to be forming on a significant scale in the diatomaceous muds off south-west Africa2,3. This may be the first well documented occurrence of modern phosphorite formation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Senin, Yu. M., Lithology and Mineral Resources, 25, 8 (Consultants Bureau, New York, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baturin, G. N., Nature, 232, 61 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Baturin, G. N., Merkulova, K. I., and Chalov, P. I., Marine Geol, 13, M37 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Birch, G. F., Bull. S. Afr. Nat. Com. Ocean. Res. Mar. Geol. Prog., 4 (Dept. Geol. Univ. Cape Town, 1971).

  5. Summerhayes, C. P., Tech. Rep. Univ. Cape Town/Geol. Surv. Mar. Geol. Prog., 5 (in the press).

  6. Parker, R. J., Bull. S. Afr. Nat. Com. Ocean. Res. Mar. Geol. Prog., 2 (Dept. Geol. Univ. Cape Town, 1971).

  7. Dingle, R. V., Trans. Geol. Soc. S. Afr., 74, 174 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dingle, R. V., J. Geol. Soc. (in the press).

  9. Rogers, J., Tech. Rep. Univ. Cape Town/Geol. Surv. Mar. Geol. Prog., 5 (in the press).

  10. Lisitzin, A. P., Soc. Econ. Palaeont. Mineral. Spec. Pub., 17 (1972).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SUMMERHAYES, C., BIRCH, G., ROGERS, J. et al. Phosphate in Sediments off South-western Africa. Nature 243, 509–511 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/243509a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/243509a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing