scholarly journals Semi-Automated Heavy-Mineral Analysis by Raman Spectroscopy

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lünsdorf ◽  
Kalies ◽  
Ahlers ◽  
Dunkl ◽  
von Eynatten
Keyword(s):  
Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
Lower Triassic ◽  
Heavy Mineral ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
Mineral Analysis ◽  
Sedimentary Provenance ◽  
Precise Tool ◽  
Mineral Data ◽  
Heavy Mineral Analysis ◽  
Spatial Referencing

A significant amount of information on sedimentary provenance is encoded in the heavy minerals of a sediment or sedimentary rock. This information is commonly assessed by optically determining the heavy-mineral assemblage, potentially followed by geochemical and/or geochronological analysis of specific heavy minerals. The proposed method of semi-automated heavy-mineral analysis by Raman spectroscopy (Raman-HMA) aims to combine the objective mineral identification capabilities of Raman spectroscopy with high-resolution geochemical techniques applied to single grains. The Raman-HMA method is an efficient and precise tool that significantly improves the comparability of heavy-mineral data with respect to both overall assemblages and individual compositions within solid solution series. Furthermore, the efficiency of subsequent analysis is increased due to identification and spatial referencing of the heavy minerals in the sample slide. The method is tested on modern sediments of the Fulda river (central Germany) draining two Miocene volcanic sources (Vogelsberg, Rhön) resting on top of Lower Triassic siliciclastic sediments. The downstream evolution of the volcanic detritus is documented and the capability to analyze silt-sized grains has revealed an additional eolian source. This capability also poses the possibility of systematically assessing the heavy-mineral assemblages of shales, which are often disregarded in sedimentary provenance studies.

Detrital zircon geochronology and heavy mineral analysis as complementary provenance tools in the presence of extensive weathering, reworking and recycling: the Neogene of the southern North Sea Basin

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jasper Verhaegen ◽  
Hilmar von Eynatten ◽  
István Dunkl ◽  
Gert Jan Weltje
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Chemical Weathering ◽  
Heavy Mineral ◽  
Mineral Analysis ◽  
Provenance Analysis ◽  
Detrital Zircon Geochronology ◽  
Southern North Sea ◽  
Variable Heavy ◽  
Mineral Data ◽  
Heavy Mineral Analysis

Abstract Heavy mineral analysis is a long-standing and valuable tool for sedimentary provenance analysis. Many studies have indicated that heavy mineral data can also be significantly affected by hydraulic sorting, weathering and reworking or recycling, leading to incomplete or erroneous provenance interpretations if they are used in isolation. By combining zircon U–Pb geochronology with heavy mineral data for the southern North Sea Basin, this study shows that the classic model of sediment mixing between a northern and a southern source throughout the Neogene is more complex. In contrast to the strongly variable heavy mineral composition, the zircon U–Pb age spectra are mostly constant for the studied samples. This provides a strong indication that most zircons had an initial similar northern source, yet the sediment has undergone intense chemical weathering on top of the Brabant Massif and Ardennes in the south. This weathered sediment was later recycled into the southern North Sea Basin through local rivers and the Meuse, leading to a weathered southern heavy mineral signature and a fresh northern heavy mineral signature, yet exhibiting a constant zircon U–Pb age signature. Thus, this study highlights the necessity of combining multiple provenance proxies to correctly account for weathering, reworking and recycling.

scholarly journals Heavy-mineral analysis in Polish investigations of Quaternary deposits: a review

Geologos ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogusław Marcinkowski ◽  
Elżbieta Mycielska-Dowgiałło
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Weathering ◽  
Heavy Mineral ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
Mineral Analysis ◽  
Quaternary Deposits ◽  
Mineral Research ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Depositional Processes ◽  
Stratigraphic Position ◽  
Heavy Mineral Analysis

Abstract The composition of heavy-mineral assemblages is one of the main textural features of sediments because they can have significant value for the interpretation of, among others, their depositional environment, their depositional processes, and their stratigraphic position. Distinctive features of heavy minerals include their resistance to chemical weathering and mechanical abrasion, their habit, and their density. These parameters are the most widely used in the heavy-mineral research of Quaternary deposits in Poland, as well as in such research in other countries conducted by Polish scientists. Several other heavy-mineral parameters can also be used in various types of interpretation. It is discussed whether heavy-mineral analysis is decisive in the evaluation of deposits or whether it plays mainly a role that may support evidence obtained by other types of analysis. The attention is mainly devoted to transparent heavy minerals; the significance of opaque heavy minerals for interpretational purposes is only mentioned.

Heavy minerals as a guide to turbidite provenance in the Lower Palaeozoic Southern Welsh Basin: a pilot study

1992 ◽  
Vol 129 (5) ◽  
pp. 573-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Morton ◽  
J. R. Davies ◽  
R. A. Waters
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Heavy Mineral ◽  
The Other ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
Mineral Analysis ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Southern Area ◽  
Distinct Source ◽  
Lower Palaeozoic ◽  
Heavy Mineral Analysis

AbstractA pilot study has demonstrated that heavy mineral analysis is a useful guide to the provenance of Silurian turbidites in the Southern Welsh Basin. The results confirm the sedimentological evidence for two distinct source areas of coarse clastic detritus, one lying to the south and the other to the east. They also provide mineralogical criteria by which the two source areas may be distinguished. The southern area provided material with relatively low mineral diversity, and is characteristic in having low rutile/zircon ratios, whereas the eastern source provided more diverse assemblages, generally with high rutile/zircon ratios. The southern source shows variations in terms of apatite/tourmaline ratio, with the older Aberystwyth Grits Group tending to contain relatively low apatite compared with the younger Cwmystwyth Grits Group (Rhuddnant and Pysgotwr Grits formations). There is evidence for polycyclic material and volcanic detritus in both southerly and easterly derived samples; however, easterly-sourced sandstones apparently tapped a more lithologically-diverse terrain.

Sediment provenance analysis of the Permian from the Perth Basin using an automated Raman heavy mineral technique

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 688
Author(s):  
Stuart Munday ◽  
Anne Forbes ◽  
Brenton Fairey ◽  
Juliane Hennig-Breitfeld ◽  
Tim Breitfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Raman Spectroscopy ◽  
Heavy Mineral ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
Sediment Provenance ◽  
Late Permian ◽  
Provenance Analysis ◽  
Spectroscopy Analysis ◽  
The North ◽  
Mineral Data ◽  
Provenance Variations

The Early Permian in the onshore Perth Basin has experienced several significant discoveries in the last 8 years. Beginning with the play-opening Waitsia discovery (AWE), this was followed more recently by the Beharra Springs Deep (Beach Energy) and West Erregulla (Strike) discoveries. In addition, Late Permian sands (Dongara and Wagina sandstones) have long been recognised as excellent reservoirs in the basin. This study attempts to better understand the provenance of the Early and Late Permian sediments using automated Raman spectroscopy as a tool to identify variations in heavy mineral assemblages. Automated Raman spectroscopy analysis of heavy minerals minimises operator bias inherent in more traditional optical heavy mineral analyses. These data are integrated with publicly available chemostratigraphy data to enable a better understanding of sediment provenance variations with stratigraphy. In addition, publicly available detrital zircon geochronological data are incorporated to help further understand sediment sources. A transect of wells is investigated, from Arrowsmith-1 in the southernmost extent to Depot Hill-1 and Mt Horner-1 in the north. While the elemental (chemostratigraphy) data suggest some changes in sediment provenance through the Permian of the Perth Basin, the Raman heavy mineral data confirm a number of sediment provenance changes both at key formational boundaries (e.g. top Kingia sandstone) and complex sediment provenance variation within reservoir sandstone units. These results are integrated to demonstrate how sediment provenance holds the key to understanding controls on variable reservoir quality as well as understanding the early infill in this basin.

Application de la methode des mineraux lourds a quelques problemes morphologiques des Abruzzes adriatiques

1962 ◽  
Vol S7-IV (2) ◽  
pp. 264-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Demangeot ◽  
M. Ters
Keyword(s):  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Heavy Mineral ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
Mineral Analysis ◽  
Quaternary Deposits ◽  
Central Apennines ◽  
Heavy Mineral Analysis

Abstract Heavy mineral analysis of samples from the Adriatic side of the Abruzzi mountains gives an indication of the age of the surface of the Gran Sasso plateaus and of the Quaternary continental formations. The absence of heavy minerals characteristic of the Pontian molasse suggests the possibility that the plateaus were never completely covered by the Pontian sea. The isolated molasse deposits which have been reported from the Gran Sasso may have been deposited in small gulfs along the shore of the sea. The Quaternary marine sediments have been dated by their fossil content. The majority of the Quaternary deposits, however, are gravels, breccias and eolian loams which contain neither fossils nor pollen. Cinder showers from Quaternary eruptions on the Tyrrhenian side of Abruzzi were carried by the wind and deposited volcanic minerals which were incorporated in the Quaternary material of the central Apennines. Heavy mineral analysis of the deposits containing these minerals reveals associations which provide a basis for determining the chronology of the Quaternary strata.

scholarly journals Stratigraphic discriminatory potential of heavy mineral analysis for the Neogene sediments of Belgium

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasper VERHAEGEN
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Composition ◽  
Visual Inspection ◽  
Heavy Mineral ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
Grain Size Analysis ◽  
Size Analysis ◽  
Mineral Analysis ◽  
The West ◽  
Neogene Sediments ◽  
Heavy Mineral Analysis

The Neogene units of Belgium cannot always be easily distinguished based on visual inspection and correlation across the basin is not straightforward. To aid in the stratigraphic interpretation of units, the discriminatory potential of heavy minerals has been determined. In this study, heavy mineral composition is combined with grain size analysis, providing information on the bulk sediment. Based on heavy mineral composition important interpretations could be made, such as (1) a different provenance between the Dessel Member and the Hageland Diest sand, making it improbable that they were deposited at the same time, (2) the Kasterlee-sensu-Gulinck unit of the eastern Antwerp Campine should be redefined as a lower Mol Formation unit or as a lateral equivalent of the typical Kasterlee Formation to the west, affected strongly by southern continental sediment input, and (3) the Waubach Member in the Ruhr Valley Graben should be split into two separate units, with the upper unit correlated with the Mol Formation and the lower unit, possibly the Inden Formation, correlated with the Diest Formation and Kasterlee Formation. The ‘X’ unit of the Maaseik core is likely a local transitional unit which cannot be directly correlated with a unit in the Campine Basin.

Heavy minerals analysis on tsunami deposits from Misawa (Japan)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Cascalho ◽  
Ana Abrantes ◽  
Pedro Costa ◽  
Piero Bellanova ◽  
Mike Frenken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Mineral ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
Tsunami Deposit ◽  
Mineral Analysis ◽  
Sediment Sources ◽  
Tsunami Deposits ◽  
Sediment Fraction ◽  
Mineral Assemblages ◽  
Storm Deposits ◽  
Heavy Mineral Analysis

<p>Heavy minerals in tsunami and storm deposits have been used to establish sediment sources and to infer the inundation and backwash phases (Morton et al., 2007). The abundance of these minerals is dependent on the hydrodynamic conditions that existed during transport and depositional stages. Overall, heavy mineral analysis allowed interpretations on sediment dynamics. Heavy mineral studies on tsunami deposits allowed the establishment of source-to-sink relationships thus, contributed to establish transport paths and inundation routes (Jagodzinski et al., 2012; Putra et al., 2013; Costa et al., 2015; Cascalho et al., 2016).</p><p>After the Tohoku-oki tsunami event, GeoSlicer were excavated and tsunami imprints were retrieved from the slices in Misawa coastal area (Japan). Heavy minerals from thirty-six samples were analyzed. Heavy minerals in the sediment fraction of 0.125-0.500 mm were separated by centrifugation in sodium polytungstate (2.90 kg/m<sup>3</sup>) and recovered by partial freezing with liquid nitrogen. An average of about 220 transparent heavy-mineral grains per sample were identified and counted under a petrographic microscope. Heavy minerals not mounted on glass slides were subjected to the ferromagnetic separation using a Frantz Isodynamic Magnetic apparatus to estimate the weight of magnetite in each sample.</p><p>Heavy-mineral weight in total sediment fraction presented a mean value of 31%, ranging between 18 and 59%. The magnetite weight percentage present in the heavy-mineral fraction has a mean of 26% ranging between 14 and 43%.</p><p>Considering the mean frequency of the transparent heavy minerals it was identified the presence of orthopyroxenes (67%), followed by clinopyroxenes (30%).</p><p>These results indicate that the main original source of heavy minerals are basic volcanic rocks. The wide ranges of variation of the total heavy mineral fraction and the magnetite present in that fraction provides useful information about the flow competence of the tsunami waves. The samples that reveal higher concentration in total heavy minerals tend to be richer in magnetite. These results could be used to pinpoint water flow conditions (velocity thresholds) promoting grain sorting leading to the formation of layers enriched in heavy minerals. Confirming previous cases, heavy mineral analysis in Misawa tsunami deposit seems to provide useful insights into tsunami-derived sediment dynamic. </p><p>      </p><p>Cascalho, J., Costa, P., Dawson, S., Milne, F. and Rocha, A. 2016. Heavy mineral assemblages of the Storegga tsunami deposit. Sedimentary geology, 334, 21-33.     </p><p>Costa, P.J., Andrade, C., Cascalho, J., Dawson, A.G., Freitas, M.C., Paris, R. and Dawson, S., 2015. Onshore tsunami sediment transport mechanisms inferred from heavy mineral assemblages. The Holocene, 25(5), pp.795-809.</p><p>Jagodziński, R., Sternal, B., Szczuciński, W., Chagué-Goff, C. and Sugawara, D., 2012. Heavy minerals in the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami deposits—insights into sediment sources and hydrodynamics. Sedimentary Geology, 282, pp.57-64.</p><p>Morton, R.A., Gelfenbaum, G. and Jaffe, B.E., 2007. Physical criteria for distinguishing sandy tsunami and storm deposits using modern examples. Sedimentary Geology, 200(3-4), pp.184-207.</p><p>Putra, P.S., Nishimura, Y., Nakamura, Y. and Yulianto, E., 2013. Sources and transportation modes of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki tsunami deposits on the central east Japan coast. Sedimentary Geology, 294, pp.282-293.</p><p>The author would like to acknowledge the financial support FCT through project UIDB/50019/2020 – IDL and by FCT OnOff project PTDC/CTAGEO/28941/2017.</p><p> </p>

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