Total Heavy Mineral Research Articles

Optimization of Mineral Separator for Recovery of Total Heavy Minerals of Bay of Bengal using Central Composite Design

The present study is aimed at investigating the optimization of a mineral separator for processing of beach sand minerals of Bay of Bengal along Ganjam–Rushikulya coast. The central composite design matrix and response surface methodology were applied in designing the experiments to evaluate the interactive effects of the three most important operating variables, such as feed quantity, wash water rate and Shake amplitude of the deck. The predicted values were found to be in good agreement with the experimental values (R2 = 0.97 for grade and 0.98 for recovery). To understand the impact of each variable, three dimensional (3D) plots were also developed for the estimated responses.

Heavy Minerals in Sands along Brahmaputra (Jamuna) River of Bangladesh

Sands along Brahmaputra River of Bangladesh have long been considered to be a source of heavy minerals (HMs) since it traversed a long way through various terrains. An attempt has been made under this research work to determine the kinds and amounts of heavy minerals in the sands sourced from the river system. Samples from 14 locations along Brahmaputra River covering 30 km distance from upstream to downstream of the river are found to contain different heavy minerals concentration with a range of 7.92 - 25.16 weight% with the remaining of the sample comprising silicate and aluminosilicates. Mineral characterization from peak positions in diffractogram of X-ray Diffraction (XRD) evaluate quartz, feldspar and mica are major categories light mineral while rutile, magnetite, illmenite, zircon, monazite, garnet, uranium arsenide and uranium fluoride are the major types heavy minerals. Ilmenite and rutile are main contributors of total heavy mineral (THM). Titanium bearing minerals ilmenite and rutile contributes 26.22% - 31.01% and 14.57% - 23.50% of THM. In the present study area, most of the sands are found to be fine and medium grained as obtained from the particle sizes analysis using 18- to 230-mesh.

Flotation tree analysis for recovery of sillimanite from red sediments

In this paper an attempt is made to recover sillimanite by flotation tree analysis process and conventional flotation process from non magnetic fraction of red sediments. The experimental results of both the processes are presented. The data reveal that the deslimed sample contains 33.2% (by weight) total heavy minerals and out of which the sillimanite mineral content is 3.6% (by weight). It is observed that flotation tree analysis needs 10 cells to get five output products and where as conventional flotation process needs 15 cells to recover similar grade of five output products. Thus, flotation tree analysis is not only economic process but also efficient process (to say efficient process, the tree analysis product should be higher grade).

Mineralogy and Mineral Chemistry of Placer Deposit around Jhatipodar, Odisha

Abstract: The heavy mineral placer sands of Jhatipodar deposit, Odisha, India extends in NE-SW parallel to the coast over a width of 750-980m. A total of 195 samples were collected vertically in a grid pattern from 46 bore holes in 5 transects from beach and dunes covering an area of 75 hectares. The total heavy minerals (THM) content of the samples vary from 3.01% to 44.38%. The heavy minerals as observed from field and laboratory investigations are ilmenite, leucoxene, garnet, sillimanite, zircon, rutile, monazite, magnetite and corundum together with hornblende, diopside, tourmaline, sphene, apatite and epidote. The heavy minerals show similar pattern of grain size distribution from beach to dunes and are dominantly in the size of 90 - 350 μm with a peak distribution in -180, +125 μm. A bulk sample of dunal sands analysed 20.48% THM, contain 7.85% ilmenite, 7.65% garnet, 4.09% sillimanite, 0.20% zircon, 0.18% rutile and 0.13% monazite. The mineral grains are well liberated, rounded to sub-rounded and mostly free from surface coatings. The ilmenites contain 47.87-56.59% TiO2 with an average of 51.76% TiO2. The high TiO2 content (9.86-16.30%) in exsolved hematite is due to Fe2O3-FeTiO3 solid solution. Compared to ilmenite, leucoxene has higher amounts of Ti, Al, Si, Cr and lower amounts of Fe and Mn. The Ti/(Ti+Fe) in ilmenite varies between 0.46% and 0.55% while that in leucoxene has a range from 0.64% to 0.96%. The provenance rocks for this deposit are the khondalites, quartzites, calcsilicate granulites, granitic gneisses, charnockite, basic granulite, anorthosite and pegmatites of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt in the catchment areas of Rushikulya river. This paper deals with the distribution of heavy minerals in beaches and dunes, mineralogical association and chemistry of different minerals to evaluate the economic potentiality of Jhatipodar placer deposit and to decipher the amenability of different heavy minerals for mineral processing.

Geology of the Cenozoic Namakwa Sands Heavy Mineral Deposit, West Coast of South Africa: A World-Class Resource of Titanium and Zircon

Exploration for heavy minerals along the coastal strip of southwest Africa led to the discovery and subsequent delineation of the Namakwa Sands deposit near Brand-se-baai in 1987. Currently, Tronox Limited controls the Namakwa Sands operation, which has developed into a significant, global producer of titanium slag, pig iron, ceramics quality zircon and rutile concentrates. The Namakwa Sands deposit is classified as a megaresource with 1.17 billion tons (Bt) of in situ ore, containing an estimated 92.6 million metric tons (Mt) of total heavy minerals and the equivalent of 23.9 Mt TiO2 units and 9.4 Mt zircon. The siliciclastic, arenaceous deposit is divided into two adjacent orebodies, referred to as Graauwduinen West and Graauwduinen East. The Graauwduinen West orebody consists of three strandline-dune couplets set in a transitional shallow marine-aeolian environment, whereas the Graauwduinen East orebody comprises a largely unrelated dune deposit. Superimposed onto the ore-bearing sequence is a pseudostratigraphy of duricrust that effectively cemented the bulk of the mineralized sands to various degrees of hardness. The two orebodies are profoundly different in many aspects. Spatially, the planar mineralization bears northeasterly in the Graauwduinen West orebody, strikingly perpendicular to the southeasterly trend observed in the Graauwduinen East orebody. Contrasts in their bulk chemistry and mineralogy are statistically significant. The Graauwduinen West orebody features noticeably better total heavy mineral grades, accompanied by conspicuously high proportions of the gangue minerals garnet and pyroxene. The valuable mineral fraction is predominated by ilmenite (FeTiO3), followed in abundance by zircon (ZrSiO4), leucoxene (an alteration product of ilmenite), and rutile (TiO2). Their geochemistry, mineralogy, and petrography are extremely variable, but the bulk of the current valuable mineral fraction is recoverable to premium-grade products. The proximal, Mesoproterozoic Namaqualand Metamorphic Province is considered the main contributor to the current heavy mineral population. The Graauwduinen West orebody received source sediment via established fluvial-marine courses, whereas the source of the Graauwduinen East orebody is considered to originate from a distinct fluvial-aeolian corridor. The genesis of the Namakwa Sands deposit is strongly entrenched in the geomorphic evolution of the west coast of southern Africa since the Cenozoic, which was driven by regional tectonism, fluctuating sea levels, and alternating climatic patterns.

Heavy Mineral Potentiality and Alteration Studies for Ilmenite in Astaranga Beach Sands, District Puri, Odisha, India

Fifteen beach sand samples were collected from a depth of 1mt at different locations of the Astaranga beach, Puri with an interval of 300 mts. The beach sand samples were studied for heavy mineral concentration at different location points and were subjected to scanning electron microscope studies for the mineral ilmenite. The percentage of total heavy mineral in Astaranga beach varies from 16.42% to 24.47%. The important minerals are ilmenite, rutile, zircon, sillimanite, garnet, monazite, pyroxene and others. For all samples a set of sieves bearing ASTM nos. 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 170 and 200 corresponding to 0.59 mm, 0.42 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.177 mm, 0.149 mm, 0.125 mm, 0.105 mm, 0.088 mm and 0.074 mm respectively were used to separate different size fractions. The sieve mesh sizes vary from 0.59 mm to 0.74 mm. It was observed that maximum concentration of heavies was confined to +200 ASTM sieve or 0.74 mm. The total average heavy mineral concentration and light mineral concentration was found to be 20.07% and 79.49% respectively. The concentration percentage of different heavy minerals varied from higher to lower in the order like ilmenite, zircon, sillimanite, garnet, rutile, pyroxene, monazite and others. The ilmenite mineral in this area is found to have altered to secondary phases like pseudorutile, leucoxene and rutile along the fractures, cavities and grain boundaries. The alteration condition was observed as streaks, irregular patches, bands, and rim like structures around the ilmenite grains. Detailed study of alteration in ilmenite was carried out by Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) attached to Scanning Electron Microscope. The potentialities of heavies found at different locations of the Astaranga beach suggested a good source for the exploration. The alteration of the mineral ilmenite and high concentration of heavy minerals clearly pointed to the sedimentary environment and mechanical concentration process due to repeated wave action.

Heavy minerals in the late Eocene sandstone of Medicine Pole Hills, southwestern North Dakota

Late Eocene sandstone capping hills and small buttes in the Medicine Pole Hills in southwestern North Dakota has been correlated with the Chalky Buttes Member of the Chadron Formation. Heavy-mineral analysis was used to assess this correlation. Optical microscopy and chemical analysis using a scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM/EDS) system were used to determine abundances and compositions of heavy minerals separated from 0.25–0.30 mm fractions of nine samples from seven depositional units (353–602 grains per sample). The 0.063–0.125 mm fraction was also studied for one of these samples. Samples ranged from coarse- to medium- to fine-grained poorly consolidated sandstone. Total heavy mineral recovery (0.4–14.1%) generally corresponded with the grain-size distribution of samples, with higher recoveries in coarser samples. Opaque grains (ferruginous aggregates, Fe-Ti oxides, and leucoxene) comprised 0.8–15.6 percent of heavy mineral grains. Non-opaque grains were dominated by amphibole (24.4–52.2%) and epidote-clinozoisite (10.6–38.1%), with variable diopside (0–51.1%). Generally less abundant minerals included garnet, apatite (bone fragments), biotite, and muscovite. One sample was biotite-rich (36.5%). Chemical compositions of heavy minerals showed no significant stratigraphic variations, suggesting the nature of the sources did not vary. Diopside, biotite, and approximately 1/3 of the amphibole grains were interpreted as derived from Tertiary volcanic sources. The majority of the amphibole grains (tremolite and blue-green hornblende), epidote, and garnet were derived from Precambrian metamorphic sources. The relative contribution of volcanic sources was variable (19–64%), being highest in those samples with more diopside and (with the exception of the biotite-rich sample) highest in those samples with higher overall heavy-mineral abundances. Individual heavy-mineral abundances also correlated fairly well with grain size. Overall, variations in heavy minerals were explained by variable volcanic source contributions and variations in grain-size distributions of the samples. Despite the variability found, cluster analysis showed that the samples from Medicine Pole Hills were consistently different than the generally much more stable heavy-mineral assemblages found in the Chalky Buttes Member. They were also consistently different when volcanic heavy minerals were ignored. The differences could not be explained by variable volcanic contributions, grain-size effects, and/or differences in heavy mineral stabilities alone. They require differences in provenance, suggesting that the sandstone of Medicine Pole Hills should not be correlated with the Chalky Buttes Member, or, at the very least, it should be considered a distinct facies of the Chalky Buttes Member.

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.

Role of light and heavy minerals on natural radioactivity level of high background radiation area, Kerala, India

Natural radionuclides (238U, 232Th and 40K) concentrations and eight different radiological parameters have been analyzed for the beach sediments of Kerala with an aim of evaluating the radiation hazards. Activity concentrations (238U and 232Th) and all the radiological parameters in most of the sites have higher values than recommended values. The Kerala beach sediments pose significant radiological threat to the people living in the area and tourists going to the beaches for recreation or to the sailors and fishermen involved in their activities in the study area. In order to know the light mineral characterization of the present sediments, mineralogical analysis has been carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic technique. The eight different minerals are identified and they are characterized. Among the various observed minerals, the minerals such as quartz, microcline feldspar, kaolinite and calcite are major minerals. The relative distribution of major minerals is determined by calculating extinction co-efficient and the values show that the amount of quartz is higher than calcite and much higher than microcline feldspar. Crystallinity index is calculated to know the crystalline nature of quartz present in the sediments. Heavy mineral separation analysis has been carried out to know the total heavy mineral (THM) percentage. This analysis revealed the presence of nine heavy minerals. The minerals such as monazite, zircon, magnetite and illmenite are predominant. Due to the rapid and extreme changes occur in highly dynamic environments of sandy beaches, quantities of major light and heavy minerals are widely varied from site to site. Granulometric analysis shows that the sand is major content. Multivariate statistical (Pearson correlation, cluster and factor) analysis has been carried out to know the effect of mineralogy on radionuclide concentrations. The present study concluded that heavy minerals induce the 238U and 232Th concentrations. Whereas, light mineral (calcite) controls the 40K concentration. In addition to the heavy minerals, clay content also induces the important radioactive variables.

Beneficiation studies on recovery and in-depth characterization of ilmenite from red sediments of badlands topography of Ganjam District, Odisha, India

This paper deals with the recovery of ilmenite mineral from red sediments of badlands topography and suggested flowsheet with material balance. The results of these investigations reveal that the red sediment samples contain 33.2% total heavy mineral, in which ilmenite mineral concentrate is 28.71% (by weight). The ilmenite concentrate recovered from red sediment sample by physical beneficiation process, which included scrubbing, desliming, gravity concentration, magnetic and electrostatic separation, contains 99.41% grade with 97.3% recovery. The ilmenite mineral concentrate recovered from red sediments is also suitable for industrial applications. The characterization studies on ilmenite reveal that the TiO2 percentage is marginally increasing from 46.69% to 47.86% with increasing magnetic intensity from 0.46 to 1.55T.

Morphological, drainage and eolian controls on the microtidal Patara Beach sediments (eastern Mediterranean): Textural, geochemical and mineralogical investigations

The effects of dominant hydrodynamic, morphological, fluvial and hinterland geological source conditions on the texture and composition of the microtidal and dissipative Patara Beach (Mediterranean coast of SW Turkey) sediments were investigated at 47 locations. Patara Beach sediments are composed entirely of sand. Fine sand (5–94%) was more abundant in the northwestern section, while medium sand contents (2–94%) increased in the central and southeastern sections. Moderately-to well sorted (mostly 0.3–0.7 Ø) sediments tend to show overall better sorting towards the southeast, in the net longshore current direction. Terrigenous carbonate grains derived from the hinterland constituted 6–50% (as CaCO3) with varying tendencies to increase or decrease within sections alongshore. Total heavy mineral concentrations in bulk sediments (1–17%, mostly <5%) were highest in localities of offshore sandy spit formation and with intense aeolian processes. The heavy mineral concentration comprises magnetite, hematite, amphiboles, pyroxene, epidote, garnet, and chromite, a mineral assemblage reflecting mafic/ultramafic/ophiolitic and metamorphic sources and mineral deposits. The concentrations of major elements (Si, Al, Ca, K, Na, P, Fe, Ti) and others (Co, Ba) are comparable with the average composition of Earth's crust rocks, and variations can be related to the varying texture and lithologies of the sediments. Higher abundances of Mg (3.3–7.7%), Cr (0.2–6.7%) and Ni (195–588 ppm) must be contributed by particular ophiolite sources. Mn (3385–4585 ppm) indicates presently-mined mineral deposits on the coast. Wind, wave, current and fluvial drainage regimes and corresponding morphological changes together with distribution of geological source rocks have great influences on the texture and composition of Patara Beach sediments.

Provenance Discrimination Studies on Sediments of the SW Kachchh Coast, Western India: Insights from Heavy Mineral and Mineral Magnetic Analysis

Studies of the SW Kachchh coast, along the western coast of India, including granulometry, heavy mineral content, and mineral magnetic properties for sediment characterization, were undertaken to fingerprint probable source attributes. Heavy mineral analysis showed that the westernmost location received its dominant contribution from Indus-derived sediments (61%), whereas in the easternmost locations, the hinterland/Kachchh mainland–derived sediments dominated, with 79% of the total heavy mineral concentration. Mineral magnetic properties also showed that sediments derived from the fluvial system of the Kachchh mainland were rich in low-coercivity magnetic minerals with distinct multidomain (MD) grain size and were dominantly ferrimagnetic mineral assemblages (S-ratio 5 0.92–1.0), whereas at the western end, the concentration of magnetic minerals was low, with a dominant stable single domain (SSD) size range and antiferromagnetic minerals dominating the magnetic mineral assemblages (S-ratio 5 0.57–0.9). The granulometry, heavy mineral content, and mineral magnetic properties characterize different segments and multiple end members contributing to the coastal setup of the Gulf of Kachchh, India.

Heavy Mineral Distribution and Characterisation of Ilmenite of Kayamkulam - Thothapally Barrier Island, Southwest Coast of India

Abstract Mineral concentration and ilmenite characterization of the Thothapally - Kayamkulam Barrier Island of the southern Kerala has been studied. 96.86% concentrations of heavy minerals are recorded in the surficial and core samples (4 m) in the southern Kayamkulam and northern Thothapally areas. The total heavy mineral content decreases with depth. The primary heavy mineral suite of the surficial and core samples consists of ilmenite, sillimanite, zircon, garnets, rutile, monazite and magnetite. Longshore current and onshore- offshore movements of sediment during the southwest monsoon are primarily responsible in sorting of the heavy minerals. TiO2 content in ilmenite is significantly higher in the Kayamkulam core sediments than the surface samples. XRD analysis supports intensive weathering and alteration leading to the higher TiO2 concentration. Higher percentage of ferric iron than ferrous iron in the core samples reveals that considerable weathering occurred under burial condition. SEM examination of ilmenite grains reveal the presence of solution pit, chemical leaching, corrosion and replacement textures, supporting the intense epigenetic alteration and weathering under subaerial condition and post- depositional changes by water–table condition.

Recovery of total heavy minerals from Badlands of Basanputti Village, Odisha

The badland topography of Basanputti Village, Ganjam District, Odisha, possesses red sediments. The typical red sediment deposit, on average, consists of 71.8% total heavy minerals (THM), out of which 62.1% are ilmenite. The other heavy minerals sillimanite, zircon, garnet, monazite, and pyriboles are in the order of abundance identified. In this present study, Mozley mineral separator has been used to recover THM from red sediment. Mineral separator results indicate that a product obtained contains 72.2% by weight with 94.4% THM and 95% recovery. The ilmenite concentrate recovered using dry low-intensity magnetic separator from the THM concentrate can be used in pigment industries after suitable pyrometallurgical/chemical processing methods.

Beneficiation and Characterization of Detrital Zircons from Beach Sand and Red Sediments in India

This paper deals with the recovery of zircon minerals from beach sand and red sediments of bad land topography and flow sheets with material balance are suggested. The experimental data reveal that the total heavy mineral content of red sediment sample is 43.9% in which zircon mineral concentrate is 2.75% by weight, where as for beach-dune sand sample the THM content is 16.7% in which zircon mineral concentrate is 0.16% by weight. It is found that U and Th and REE elements contents are much higher in red sediment zircon sample than beach sand zircon. Zircon concentrates recovered from beach-dune sand and red sediments contain 98 to 98.1% zircon with 79.6 to 80% recovery respectively. These zircon minerals from both the sources are suitable for industrial applications.

Occurrence of Uraniferous Iron Grains at Gabal Gattar, El Missikat and El Erediya Granites in Eastern Desert of Egypt

AbstractUraniferous iron grains occur in some radioactive granite plutons in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Modal analysis of these grains indicates that weight abundance of uraniferous grains amounts to 17.50%, 18.00% and 26.00% of the total accessory heavy minerals of the uranium‐mineralized samples of Gabal Gattar, El Missikat and El Erediya, respectively. These grains are mainly restricted to shear zones associated with strong hematitization, and occur either as fracture fillings or as interstitial grains among the main rock‐forming minerals. Uraniferous iron grains are mainly composed of uranophane and β‐uranophane coated and stained with limonite. These grains represent the main radioactive minerals in addition to the bright canary yellow to yellow uranophane and β‐uranophane mineral grains. The data obtained on scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis confirm the abundance of iron in the darker colored varieties with respect to the light colored varieties. This mode of occurrence of the uranium minerals requires special consideration during mineral processing by physical means.

Recovery of Ilmenite and Other Heavy Minerals from Teri Sands (Red Sands) of Tamil Nadu, India

The red sand which is known as Teri sand in Tamil Nadu consists of 5.5% Total Heavy Minerals (THM) out of which 3.7% is ilmenite. The other minerals, zircon, sillimanite and garnet are in the order of abundance identified. On processing this feed to recover ilmenite by using spirals followed by dry high intensity magnetic separator and high tension separator, the ilmenite concentrate obtained contains 99.1% ilmenite with 3.5% yield and 94% recovery. The other heavy minerals, including zircon (53.3%) and sillimanite (31.7%), could be further processed for recovery of individual mineral of zircon and sillimanite by judicious combination of gravity and flotation processes.

Preliminary investigations on recovery of zircon from alluvial pebbles

Owing to high demand of zircon, the exploitation of the sand deposits and recovery of zircon from such alternate sources is a priority at present. In this context, investigations were carried out on the recovery of zircon from river pebbles by gravity spirals and tables. The study revealed that the Run of Mine (ROM) sample contains 0.35% by weight Total Heavy Minerals (THMs) with 0.03% ZrO2. The sample ground to d80 (passing size of 1000 µm) was subjected to six-stage spirals followed by tables. The end-product obtained in this process contains 44.1% ZrO2 with 74% recovery.

Impact of tsunami on texture and mineralogy of a major placer deposit in southwest coast of India

The great Indonesian earth quake (26 December 2004) triggered a tsunami wave across the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean basins and has brought a major havoc in several countries including India. The coastal segment between Thotapalli and Valiazhikal in Kerala state of southwest India, where considerably rich beach placer deposit with ilmenite percentage of more than 70% is concentrated, has been investigated to understand the impact of tsunami on coastal sediments. The grain size analysis flashes out the significant differences between the pre- and post-tsunami littoral environments. While the mineral grains collected during pre-tsunami period show well-sorted nature, the post-tsunami samples represent moderately to poorly sorted nature. Similarly, unimodal and bimodal distributions of the sediments have been recorded for pre- and post-tsunami sediments, respectively. Further, mineral assemblages corresponding to before and after this major wave activity clearly indicate the large-scale redistribution of sediments. The post-tsunami sediments register increasing trends of garnet, sillimanite and rutile. The total heavy mineral percentage of the post-tsunami sediment also shows an improved concentration, perhaps due to the large-scale transport of lighter fraction. Magnetite percentage of post-tsunami samples reflects higher concentration compared to the pre-tsunami samples, indicating the intensity of reworking process. X-ray diffraction patterns of ilmenite grains have confirmed the increased presence of pseduorutile, and pseudobrookite in post-tsunami samples, which could be due to the mixing of more altered grains. SEM examination of grains also confirms the significant alteration patterns on the ubiquitous mineral of placer body, the ilmenite. The reason for these textural, mineralogical and micromorphological changes in heavy minerals particularly in ilmenite, could be due to the churning action on the deeper sediments of onshore region or on the sediments entrapped in the near shelf region of the area, by the ∼ 6 m high tsunami waves.

Radiometric characteristics of heavy mineral deposits along the west coast of South Africa

During the last decade, exploration and mining of modern-Tertiary heavy mineral beach and raised beach sands along the west coast of South Africa has developed into a major industry. High resolution radiometric techniques have demonstrated their use as a quantitative indicator of total heavy mineral concentration (THM) and also have the ability to discriminate between sediments derived from different provenance terrains. Results indicate that it is possible to calculate the total heavy mineral concentration from high resolution radiometric measurements, but the ability to quantify the concentration of individual mineral fractions, such as ilmenite, requires further refinement of the method. Radiometric characteristics of the light mineral fraction made it possible to distinguish between sediments from mixed marine-aeolian palaeoplacers and active present beach placers. The effects of in situ alteration of the ilmenite fraction in the palaeoplacers were also reflected by subtle contrasts in the radiometric character of the deposits. Furthermore, the uniform radiometric character of the sample population indicates a common provenance for the heavy mineral suite and supports previous results which indicate the metamorphites of the mid-Proterozoic Namaqua Province as the primary source terrain. The high resolution radiometric techniques discussed offer a broad spectrum of applications in sedimentology and have the potential to aid heavy mineral exploration. With further refinement it can possibly be used quantitatively in grade control during mining and beneficiation of heavy mineral deposits.