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

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-mineral, mineral-chemical and zircon-age constraints on the provenance of Triassic sandstones from the Devon coast, southern Britain

“…The heavy-mineral residues were mounted under Canada balsam (cf. Marcinkowski & Mycielska-Dowgiałło, 2013) for optical study using a polarising microscope. Where possible, a split was retained for mineral-chemical and zircon-dating studies.…”

Upper Pleistocene palaeoenvironmental changes at the Zwierzyniec site, central Poland

“…Sands are pre sum ably of flu vial or i gin; this is sup ported by the abudance of the shiny well-and partially-rounded quartz grains (EL+EM/EL) and lack of mica. This min eral, due to its platy habit (Marcinkowski and Mycielska-Dowgia³³o, 2013), con tra dicts with wa ter flow ing con di tions. The nu mer ously cracked quartz grains co in cide with the glacial-inter gla cial tran si tion and could be pos si bly in her ited from the un der ly ing till.…”

Heavy-mineral analysis as a tool in tephrochronology, with an example from the La Sal Mountains, Utah, U.S.A.

“…For heavy-mineral analysis, heavy particles of the 100-200 µm size fraction, separated by floatation in bromoform, were embedded in resin (refraction index 1.67) for microscopic examination (cf. Marcinkowski & Mycielska-Dowgiałło, 2013). Approximately 200 nonopaque grains were identified per sample.…”