CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALOGY IN THE CLASTIC SEDIMENTS FROM THE YELLOW RIVER PROVENANCE, CHINA

Abstract

149 heavy mineral samples in clastic sediments collected from the river channel, tidal flat and undersea delta in the vicinity of the Yellow River Estuary were analysed. The analysis result shows that the micahornblendeepidote association comprises biotite, amphiboles, muscovite, ilmenite, limonite, garnet, zircon, apatite, magnetite, titanite, and pyroxenes etc. The mineral components are variant in different geomorsedimentary environments due to different dynamic conditions. The micahornblendeepidote association occurs in the channel and distributary channel sediments enriched in magnetite, ilmenite, zircon, and apatite. The micahornblende association occurs in the tidal flat, containing limonite, authigenic pyrite and collephane, whereas mica groups are significantly rich and the content is up to 70% in the undersea delta.Compared to the Yangtze River, the Yellow River provenance is characterized by rich micahornblendeepidote assemblage, high biotite/muscovite and magnetite/ilmenite ratios and low epidote/titanite and amphiboles/pyroxenes ratios.