Although ferromanganese crusts from shallow depths in Lake Baykal have been described previously, the presence of nodules at depths of about 500 m are a new discovery made possible by exploration using manned submersibles. The nodules are comparable to oceanic nodules in composition, but have some significant differences, including a more rapid rate of growth. Sedimentary-diagenetic processes are mainly responsible for their formation, but there is reason to believe hydrothermal fluids play some role.

From 1983 until 1989 NOAA-NCEI compiled the NOAA-MMS Marine Minerals Geochemical Database from journal articles, technical reports and unpublished sources from other institutions. At the time it was the most extended data compilation on ferromanganese deposits world wide. Initially published in a proprietary format incompatible with present day standards it was jointly decided by AWI and NOAA to transcribe this legacy data into PANGAEA. This transfer is augmented by a careful checking of the original sources when available and the encoding of ancillary information (sample description, method of analysis...) not present in the NOAA-MMS database.

Supplement to: Bukharov, A A; Murashko, D N; Fialkov, V A (1993): Ferromanganese nodules on the underwater slopes of the Uskahan Islands, Lake Baykal. International Geology Review, 35(1), 89-100