Recycling of Coastal Dredged Sediments from the Northern Nile Delta,Egypt, for Heavy Minerals Exploitation

Mineralogical and textural analyses of 45 undisturbed short cores and 80 grab sediment samples, collected from five frequently dredged navigational areas within harbors and water pathways of the Nile delta littoral system, were utilized for evaluation of these sediments as potential source of economic heavy minerals (EHMs). Results of mineralogical characterization indicate that the average total heavy mineral (HM) concentrations are as follows: Abu Qir Bay (1.7%), Rosetta estuary (3.1%), Burullus fishing port (4.5%), Damietta Harbor (2.9%), and El Gamil lagoon inlet (1.9%). Assessment of HM grades indicates predominance of magnetite, ilmenite, hematite, leucoxene, garnet, zircon, and rutile. Results of the feasibility analysis indicate that dredged sediments at these study areas are considered as a potential source of EHMs and economically promising to be mined for HMs. The present study suggests a practical operative plan of two successive phases for HMs recycling: (1) in-situ initial separation of HMs on the dredger deck using wet-gravity spirals, then (2) transportation of the recovered HM concentrates to an onshore processing plant to selectively separate individual HMs via wet and dry magnetic and electrostatic separators. Alternatively, dredged sediments can be directly pumped to a nearby onshore area as stockpile to be recycled afterward in inland processing plant.     

两种密度三溴甲烷分离重矿物效果的对比分析

采用国内目前常用的两种密度三溴甲烷重液(重液1,密度为2.87 g/cm3;重液2,密度为2.80 g/cm3),分别对黄河、长江、珠江等河流以及东海、南海等海区沉积物中的0.063~0.25 mm粒级进行了重矿物分离及对比实验。结果表明,重矿物分离过程中,两种重液的密度均发生了一定程度的变化,其中重液2的密度变化较大且呈整体增加趋势,而重液1密度则较为稳定。比较而言,重液2分离出的重矿物质量分数较重液1的稳定,尤其处理白云石质量分数较高(如长江)的沉积物时,重液2较重液1分离出的重矿物质量分数明显偏高。由于能有效区分方解石和白云石,重液2在分离东海、长江沉积物中的重矿物效果要好于重液1。为使分离出来的重矿物质量分数保持稳定,每次提取完重矿物的剩余重液2需重新配平至密度为2.80 g/cm3。对两种重液分离出来的重矿物质量分数进行了回归分析,结果显示两者有一定的相关性,并可建立一元线性回归方程将两种结果进行粗略转换。由于在重矿物分离过程中,损失的碎屑矿物很低(一般在个样总质量的1%以内),其对重矿物质量分数的影响可忽略不计。     

Silt heavy-mineral distributions off the Southeastern United States

Until recently heavy-mineral studies of marine sediments were largely restricted to sand fractions. New techniques permitting analysis of decalcified silt fractions have been applied to sediments off the southeastern United States. Our data, which confirm predictions from the basic relationship among grain size, specific gravity, and equivalent hydraulic transport behavior, show that concentrations and average diameters of the silt heavy minerals progressively decrease seaward. Heavy minerals always constitute a substantially greater weight percent of the silt than of the sand fraction. Despite corroded surface textures suggestive of extensive weathering and dissolution, spatial trends in the detrital heavy-mineral populations are predominantly controlled by source and hydraulic factors.     

Heavy Minerals and Rare Earth Elements in Coastal and Inland Dune Sands of El Vizcaino Desert,Baja California Peninsula,Mexico

A heavy mineral (HM) study and light and heavy rare earth elements (LREE and HREE) analysis were performed in coastal and inland dune sands, El Vizcaino Desert, Central Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Our study shows high abundances of hornblende and apatite in the El Vizcaino dune sands, suggesting a dominance of granodiorites/intermediate plutonic rocks and marine authigenic phosphorite in the dune sands. There is a relationship between unstable heavy minerals like hornblende, pyroxenes, and sphene, and heavy rare earth elements (HREE) that suggests that unstable heavy minerals are potential carriers of HREE in the dune fields. However, there is a slight depletion of HREE in relation to LREE, especially in one locality of the inland dunes probably associated with the wind regime and weathering of unstable heavy minerals in the sands. Inland, transitional, and coastal dune fields can be observed as different dune provinces by means of grouping HM and REE data in two separate dendograms. It seems that HREE are correlated with fine-grained sand sizes and correlated with high CIA values linked to slightly weathered sands.     

Estimation of heavy and opaque mineral contents of beach and offshore placers using rock magnetic techniques

Exploration for placer deposits involves heavy and opaque mineral data that are conventionally obtained using toxic and expensive chemicals and time-consuming and tedious microscopic counting of a large number of grains. In this investigation, we have used rock magnetic properties to obtain estimates of heavy and opaque mineral contents of placers from the SW coast of India. Magnetic susceptibility and other magnetic properties show strong correlations with heavy and opaque (r > 0.87 andr > 0.94; significant at the 1% level) mineral contents. As one or more types of magnetic minerals are invariably present in placers, magnetic properties may be used as a proxy for heavy and opaque mineral contents. This simple, rapid, inexpensive, and nondestructive method may be adopted by those involved in placer exploration to rapidly scan a large number of samples and delineate economically important pockets for more detailed investigations. This method saves considerable time and tedium. Using magnetic properties, rather than radioactivity, as a proxy for heavy and opaque mineral contents is more advantageous because one or more magnetic minerals are always present, but a radioactive mineral may not always be present in placers. An important limitation is that the ratio of magnetic to heavy/opaque mineral contents should not vary widely.     

长江口表层沉积物重矿物在不同粒级中的分布与研究意义

在粒度分析基础上,以0.5Φ为间距对长江口表层沉积物的不同粒级分样进行碎屑重矿物分析,并对各粒级重矿物特征与广粒级(1.5Φ～6Φ)进行相似度分析。结果表明,长江口沉积物粒度跨度大,从粗砂到泥(黏土)均有分布,粉砂含量高。样内不同粒级分样重矿物含量、种类和组合均有一定变化,样间表现出较一致的规律性。长江口出现碎屑重矿物30种左右,粗粒级分样中矿物种数为10余种,细粒级分样中重矿物种类增至20多种;3.5Φ～4.5Φ是重矿物种类多、矿物成分复杂的粒级区段。粗粒级(粒径大于3Φ)云母族富集,其重矿物组合为云母+角闪石,随粒级变细(粒径小于4Φ)云母急剧减少;闪石族分布粒级广泛,在3Φ～5Φ粒级含量相对较高;帘石族、稳定矿物尤其是金属矿物在粒径小于3.5Φ粒级逐渐增多。长江口重矿物整体组合为普通角闪石+绿帘石+褐铁矿,榍石为特征矿物。相似度分析表明,长江口沉积物样品中主要粒级与广粒级重矿物特征相近,能代表沉积物整体重矿物特征。长江口碎屑重矿物特征深受粒度分布的影响,其矿物种类、矿物组合和矿物指数及其所蕴含的水动力和物源意义都要结合粒度特征来综合分析。     

Characteristics of heavy minerals composition and distribution in surface sediment from the Xinghua Bay of Fujian, China

The composition, assemblage and distribution characteristics of heavy minerals from 63 to 125 μm grain sizes in surface sediment from the Xinghua Bay (17 stations) are studied. The matter source of silt and the relationship between heavy minerals and sedimentary environment are also discussed. The results show that there are 37 kinds of heavy minerals and the average content of them is 12.08%,which exceeds 6% compared with the Meizhou Bay (5.67%). The dominant minerals are magnetite, hornblende, epidote, ilmenite,hematite, limonite, zircon and so on. Mineral kinds reveal that the sources of silt in this bay are the fluvial input and eroded products of bedrock in circnmjacent land and islands of the Xinghua Bay. However, the matter source from outside this bay is less. Four mineral assemblage zones can be divided based on heavy mineral contents and distribution characteristics in the Xinghua Bay, which are not only influenced by matter source, but also controlled by hydrodynamic condition and sedimentary environment in the Xinghua Bay.     

Ten Years of Studies on Maryland's Inner Continental Margin and Coastal Bays

During the past ten years of the Association of American State Geologists-Mineral Management Service Continental Margins Program, the Maryland Geological Sur vey investigated the sedimentological, paleontological, stratigraphical and geophysi cal character of Maryland's inner continental shelf. Based on seismic records and sedimentological analyses completed during the first four years, a late Quaternary stratigraphic model was developed. Five distinct stratigraphic units were identified and described on the Maryland inner shelf. These units represent late Pleistocene interglacial deposits, the oldest of which corresponds to pre-Illinoian (oxygen-isotope stages 7 and or 9) transgressive shelf sands. Overlying the Q1 unit, the Q2 unit is a 6-meter thick mud sequence of oxygen-isotope stage 5 (128-75 ka) age. Units Q3 and Q4 representing fluvial and leading edge estuarine deposits (oxygen-isotope stages 4, 3 and 2) filled numerous paleochannels that were incised into units Q2 and Q1. Modern trailing-edge transgressive shelf shoals (Unit Q5) discontinuously cap the sequence. The 5th and 6th years studies reported on the economic minerals of surficial and cored sediments. Vibracores collected off the Maryland's shelf during previous studies were analyzed for mineral types and abundances, weight percent of general size fractions, and heavy mineral (HM) content. Mineralogic maturity indices were compiled to correlate the THM and economic heavy minerals (EHM) abundances with position offshore, sediment type, and the indices themselves. For the 7th year, the Maryland Geological Survey re-examined geophysical records and lithological data originally collected by the Army Corps of Engineers to locate and assess beach fill borrow areas for the Ocean City Beach Replenishment Project. Data from 163 vibracores and over 300 kilometers of high-resolution seismic profile records collected off Ocean City, Maryland, supported the strati graphic model developed by MGS during the first four years of the AASG-MMS program. The Maryland coastal bays became the focus of study during the 8th and 9th years during which seismic records, cores and surficial sediment were collected in Isle of Wight and Assawoman Bays. Shallow pretransgression surface was mapped, relating the existing streams to offshore paleochannels. The tenth year study focused on developing a repository for vibracores collected on Maryland's inner continental shelf.     

Ten Years of Studies on Maryland's Inner Continental Margin and Coastal Bays

During the past ten years of the Association of American State Geologists-Mineral Management Service Continental Margins Program, the Maryland Geological Sur vey investigated the sedimentological, paleontological, stratigraphical and geophysi cal character of Maryland's inner continental shelf. Based on seismic records and sedimentological analyses completed during the first four years, a late Quaternary stratigraphic model was developed. Five distinct stratigraphic units were identified and described on the Maryland inner shelf. These units represent late Pleistocene interglacial deposits, the oldest of which corresponds to pre-Illinoian (oxygen-isotope stages 7 and or 9) transgressive shelf sands. Overlying the Q1 unit, the Q2 unit is a 6-meter thick mud sequence of oxygen-isotope stage 5 (128-75 ka) age. Units Q3 and Q4 representing fluvial and leading edge estuarine deposits (oxygen-isotope stages 4, 3 and 2) filled numerous paleochannels that were incised into units Q2 and Q1. Modern trailing-edge transgressive shelf shoals (Unit Q5) discontinuously cap the sequence. The 5th and 6th years studies reported on the economic minerals of surficial and cored sediments. Vibracores collected off the Maryland's shelf during previous studies were analyzed for mineral types and abundances, weight percent of general size fractions, and heavy mineral (HM) content. Mineralogic maturity indices were compiled to correlate the THM and economic heavy minerals (EHM) abundances with position offshore, sediment type, and the indices themselves. For the 7th year, the Maryland Geological Survey re-examined geophysical records and lithological data originally collected by the Army Corps of Engineers to locate and assess beach fill borrow areas for the Ocean City Beach Replenishment Project. Data from 163 vibracores and over 300 kilometers of high-resolution seismic profile records collected off Ocean City, Maryland, supported the strati graphic model developed by MGS during the first four years of the AASG-MMS program. The Maryland coastal bays became the focus of study during the 8th and 9th years during which seismic records, cores and surficial sediment were collected in Isle of Wight and Assawoman Bays. Shallow pretransgression surface was mapped, relating the existing streams to offshore paleochannels. The tenth year study focused on developing a repository for vibracores collected on Maryland's inner continental shelf.     

Provenance Signature of Pre-Cambrian and Mesozoic Rocks in the Nearshore Placers of Konkan,Central West Coast of India

Heavy mineral studies of the nearshore placer deposits of the Konkan Coast reveal a dominant assemblage comprised of garnet and kyanite along with other accessory minerals like epidote, olivine and rutile. The heavy mineral assemblage of the study region shows a characteristic suite of 17 types of heavy minerals. Their abundance shows hardly any drastic variation in the four bays studied. Overwhelming presence of minerals like garnet and kyanite in the studied four bays points to the source as metamorphic rocks. The presence of etched garnets, overgrown zircons and etched kyanites corroborate the recycling of paleo-sediments into the bay. Characterization of opaques under the microscope also corroborates the influence of a metamorphic source, rather than the adjoining basaltic rocks. However, the absence of metamorphic rocks in the hinterland suggests the possibility of deposition of sediments predominantly from offshore. Factor analysis results also corroborate the overwhelming influence of metamorphic rocks in the present study region rather than the abutting basalts.     

Stratigraphic Framework and Heavy Minerals of the Continental Shelf of Onslow and Long Bays,North Carolina

One hundred fourteen vibracores from the Atlantic continental shelf offshore of southeastern North Carolina were opened, described, and processed over several contract years (years 6-9) of the Minerals Management Service Association of American State Geologists Continental Margins program. Reports for years 9 and 10 of the program compiled the results of the work and assembled the data for release as an interactive CD-ROM report, respectively. The continental shelf of Onslow and Long Bays consists predominantly of outcropping Cretaceous through late Tertiary geologic units. Nearshore these units are covered and incised by late Tertiary and Quaternary units. From oldest to youngest, formally recognized geologic units mapped as part of this study are the Late Cretaceous Peedee Formation a muddy, fine-to medium-grained quartz sand with trace amounts of glauconite and phosphate; the Paleocene Beaufort Forma tion a muddy, fine-to medium-grained glauconitic quartz sand with locally occurring turritelid-mold biosparrudite; the middle Eocene Castle Hayne Forma tion a sandy bryozoan biomicrudite and biosparrudite; the Oligocene River Bend Formation a sandy molluscan-mold biosparrudite; and the Miocene Pungo River Formation a medium-grained, poorly sorted slightly shelly phosphatic sand. Infor mal units include a very widespread, unnamed fine-to very fine grained, well-sorted, dolomitic muddy quartz sand that is biostratigraphically equivalent to the Oligocene River Bend Formation; several large valley-fill lithosomes composed of biomicrudite, biomicrite, and biosparrudite of Plio Pleistocene age; muddy, shelly sands and silty clays of Pliocene, Pleistocene, or mixed Plio Pleistocene age; and loose, slightly shelly, medium- to coarse-grained sands assigned a Holocene age. Heavy minerals (SG>2.96) comprise an average of 0.54 wt % (on a bulk-sam ple basis) of the sediments in 306 samples derived from the 114 vibracores. Heavy-mineral content ranges from <0.01 to 3.69 wt %. The economic heavy mineral content (EHM ilmenite zircon rutile aluminosilicates leucoxene [altered ilmenite] monazite) of the bulk samples averages 0.26 wt % in a range of <0.01-1.70 wt %. As a percentage of the heavy-mineral concentrate, the average EHM value is 45.78 % in a range of 0.27-68.60 %. The distribution of heavy minerals offshore of southeastern North Carolina is controlled by the lithostratigraphic framework. The unnamed Oligocene sand unit has the highest heavy-mineral content, averaging 0.86 wt % on a bulk-sample basis. The remaining geologic units and their heavy-mineral content (in decreasing order of abundance) are Beaufort (0.64 %), Holocene sand (0.60 %), Plio-Pleistocene muddy sand and silty clay (0.59 %), Peedee (0.42 %), River Bend (0.34 %), Plio-Pleistocene carbonate (0.12 %), and Castle Hayne (0.08 %). The heavy-mineral assemblage is fairly consistent throughout the different units. Significantly smaller percentages of heavy minerals correlate with increased amounts of CaCO3 in the sediments. The sediments analyzed in this study have significantly lower overall heavymineral content, as well as lower EHM content than sediments that are known to host commercially important heavy-mineral deposits in the southeastern United States. The potential for economic deposits of heavy minerals in the area of this study, therefore, appears to be limited.     

鲁南近浅海沉积物样品的因子分析及其地质意义

本文提出河流携带入海的沉积物或沿岸剥蚀物中矿物的分布及再组合是受多种因素控制的。为了确定控制鲁南两城河至白马河沉积物样品中矿物分布及再组合的主要因素,作者对该区109个沉积物样品的重矿物资料进行了Q型和R型因子分析。研究指出,在诸多的河流中,白马河和两城河是控制该区沉积物分布的最上要的河流;矿物的化学稳定性是决定该区矿物再组合的主要因素。     

广西铁山港表层沉积物碎屑矿物组成、分布及水动力环境分析

为了资源、环境和港口建设的需要,对取自铁山港海域68个表层沉积物样品进行了系统的矿物鉴定和统计,结果表明：沉积物中矿物种类丰富,其中轻矿物以石英为主;重矿物以电气石、锆石、钛铁矿的高含量为特征,褐铁矿也有一定量的分布。轻、重矿物成熟度指数高,表明沉积物遭受过强烈化学风化作用,重矿物组合为电气石+钛铁矿+锆石。湾内多个站位出现锆石砂矿品位异常,锆石资源前景良好。多种矿物分布在湾的中南部,呈现明显的等值线高低不同的韵律性环状分布,湾中矿物主要来源于广西近岸陆地,其分布受地形和水动力的共同影响,入海泥沙在湾内主要受控于潮流影响,涨潮流与落潮流的流路和流速的不同是湾中矿物分布变化的主要原因。     

长江口北支表层沉积物重矿物分布和磁学特征

分析了长江口北支表层沉积物的重矿物分布,结合磁参数和粒度特征,探讨其在各沉积动力分区的分布特点及控制因素.研究表明:研究区重矿物以角闪石和绿帘石组合为主,其次为云母类和磁铁矿等.其中浅滩和潮流脊处水动力较强,沉积物颗粒较粗,重矿物以片状矿物-稳定矿物组合占优势,磁性参数相对较低;汉道和潮汐通道处水动力相对较弱,沉积物以...     

湄洲湾重矿物组合及分布特征

湄洲湾重矿物平均含量5.67%,高于台湾海峡中北部的(0.96%),>10%的高值区分布于湾内深槽的岛屿附近,<3%的低值区见于近岸海域。重矿物37种,以磁铁矿、角闪石、绿帘石、褐铁矿等为主。根据重矿物的含量可将其分为6个矿物区。湾内物质来源于河沙、岸边、岛屿和海底蚀沙及台湾海峡来沙。湾内与海峡之间进行物质交换,磁铁矿、锆石等颗粒状矿物由湾内向海峡方向扩散,而黑云母等片状矿物则由海峡向湾内扩散。湄洲湾处于较氧化的高能环境。     

福建兴化湾表层沉积物中重矿物组分及其分布特征

对兴化湾17个站位表层沉积物中63～125μm粒级重矿物组分、含量、组合及分布特征进行了分析研究,并探讨了泥沙物质来源及重矿物与沉积环境的关系.结果表明,兴化湾重矿物平均含量(质量分数)为12.08%,高出其邻近的湄州湾(5.67%)6个百分点;重矿物共计37种,以磁铁矿、角闪石、绿帘石、钛铁矿、赤铁矿、褐铁矿、锆石为主.矿物种类揭示该海湾的泥沙主要来源于湾顶河流输入和周边陆域及湾内岛屿基岩风化侵蚀产物,而湾口以外海域的输入物质较少;依据主要重矿物含量和分布特征,将兴化湾划分为4个矿物组合区,各区重矿物组合类型不仅与物质来源有关,而且受水动力条件和沉积环境制约.     

从统计分析看控制东海重矿物分布的因素

任何地质作用过程都是复杂的,东海也不例外,其沉积过程具有长期性、继承性和叠加性的特点.因而反映在矿物组合及其分布变化上较为复杂,影响因素颇多.然而,运用数学地质方法却可帮助我们寻找和确定其主要的影响因素,查明它们的相互关系,甚至建立定量描述的模式.而这正是传统地质学研究中的难题之一.     

Grain size and heavy mineral distribution as related to hinterland and environmental conditions for modern beach sediments from the Gulfs of Antalya and Finike, eastern Mediterranean

Backshore sediment samples from 22 beaches along the Antalya and Finike Gulfs have been studied for their grain size, chemical and heavy mineral composition. Data presented here suggest that well- to moderately-sorted (0.41 Φ–0.92 Φ) medium sand (1 Φ–2 Φ) represents dominant mean grain size in most beaches. In contrast, some beaches from the western part of the Gulf of Antalya (Göynük, Kemer-Kiriş and Beldibi) are composed of pebble- to boulder-size grained beaches which are located close to mouths of short and steep-gradient ephemeral rivers entering the sea from the Western Taurus Mountains. The heavy mineral assemblages are dominated by detrital opaque minerals (14–58% magnetite, chromite, and hematite), pyroxene (8–65% augite), amphibole (3–15% tremolite and actinolite), epidote (3–25%), garnet (2–9% pyrope and almandine) and micas (3–20 biotite, muscovite and chlorite). The very high concentrations of heavy minerals (up to 86% of bulk sediment) together with the significant concentrations of some elements found in beach sediments from the Gulf of Finike and western Gulf of Antalya (Fe: 18.40%; Cr: 10.00%; and Ti: 1.32%) are indicative of ultramafic origin, mainly derived from the ophiolitic rocks of the Antalya–Tekirova nappe on coastal hinterland.     

曹妃甸近岸及周边海区碎屑矿物组成特征及其环境意义

为探讨曹妃甸近岸及周边海区沉积物碎屑矿物组成特征以及曹妃甸大规模围填海工程对其影响,作者对2013年10月采自曹妃甸及周边海区的表层沉积物样品采用轻重矿物分离的方法进行了鉴定。结果表明:大规模围填海工程在改变曹妃甸岸线形态的同时也改变了其冲淤环境,使得碎屑矿物组分在大规模围填海前后发生一定变化。研究区的沉积物整体以轻矿物为主,平均含量为97.83%,其中曹妃甸近岸平均含量为95.57%;重矿物平均含量为2.17%,其中曹妃甸近岸平均含量为4.43%。研究区的重矿物优势矿物主要有普通角闪石、绿帘石和自生黄铁矿,其中普通角闪石所占比例在曹妃甸近岸达到最高值(36.41%);轻矿物的优势矿物主要有石英、斜长石和风化碎屑,其中石英所占比例也在曹妃甸近岸达到最高值(62.72%)。研究发现,曹妃甸近岸沉积物碎屑矿物相对含量增加而重矿物基本不变,这在一定程度上揭示了大规模人工围填海工程对曹妃甸近岸及周边海区沉积环境的影响。     

Magnetic anomalies in the canary basin and the Mesozoic evolution of the central North Atlantic

The data from a recent magnetic compilation by Verhoefet al. (1991) off west Africa were used in combination with data in the western Atlantic to review the Mesozoic plate kinematic evolution of the central North Atlantic. The magnetic profile data were analyzed to identify the M-series sea floor spreading anomalies on the African plate. Oceanic fracture zones were identified from magnetic anomalies and seismic and gravity measurements. The identified sea floor spreading anomalies on the African plate were combined with those on the North American plate to calculate reconstruction poles for this part of the central Atlantic. The total separation poles derived in this paper describe a smooth curve, suggesting that the motion of the pole through time was continuous. Although the new sea floor spreading history differs only slightly from the one presented by Klitgord and Schouten (1986), it predicts smoother flowlines. On the other hand, the sea floor spreading history as depicted by the flowlines for the eastern central Atlantic deviates substantially from that of Sundvik and Larson (1988). A revised spreading history is also presented for the Cretaceous Magnetic Quiet Zone, where large changes in spreading direction occurred, that can not be resolved when fitting magnetic isochrons only, but which are evident from fracture zone traces and directions of sea floor spreading topography.Deceased 11 November 1991