Sea water contains a large number of elements. The most common among them are sodium, potassium, calcium, chlorides and sulphate. The main source of these elements is the chemical weathering of igneous rocks followed by the extraction of soluble salts with water.
It may be noted that although sea water is a treasure house of valuable elements, yet only four elements namely: Chlorine, bromine, magnesium and sodium are commercially recovered from sea water.
In recent years new sources has been discovered on the ocean floor which is called Manganese Nodules. These nodules are rock like objects consisting of oxides of Mn, Fe and small amounts of CO, Cu and N. It is believed that marine organisms play a major role in the formation of such wodules.
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