FORMATION AND PROSPECT OF VALUABLE HEAVY MINERALS IN SURFACE SEDIMENTS IN THE NORTHERN EAST CHINA SEA SHELF

In this paper, heavy minerals are identified for the 336 surface sediment samples taken from the northern East China Sea shelf in 2007. Ilmenite, garnet, zircon and rutile are picked out from heavy minerals as valuable ones. High grade of the valuable minerals are distributed in the northern and southeastern parts of the studied area. There are several reasons for the enrichment of the valuable heavy minerals: a) paleo-Yangtze River and other rivers provided sediments rich in these valuable heavy sands; b) coarse grains sediments like sand and silty sand are helpful for heavy sands enrichment; c) both postglacial transgression and modern hydrodynamic conditions have contributed to the enrichment of heavy minerals and d) the modern hydrodynamics are favorable for the preservation of heavy minerals against retransportation. The studied area can be divided into five prospecting areas based on integrated evaluation of various factors, such as grades of valuable heavy minerals, offshore distances water depth, sediment type and other relative factors. Our research has paved a scientific foundation for future exploitation of heavy minerals in the northern East China Sea shelf.