Article
Article
Heavy minerals
Article By:
Morton, Andrew Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, Kings College, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Last reviewed:November 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.311400
Minerals with a density greater than 2.9 g/cm3. The term is most commonly used to denote high-density components of siliciclastic sediments. Most heavy mineral studies are undertaken to determine sediment provenance (source characteristics), because heavy mineral suites provide important information on the mineralogical composition of source areas (see table). See also: Provenance (geology)
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