PETROGRAPHIC AND PROVENANCE STUDIES OF HEAVY MINERALS IN SANDSTONES FROM IFELODUN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Petrographic and provenance studies of heavy minerals in Ifelodun sediment were carried out. Sediment samples from eight locations were obtained from the study area; sieved to allow only sand-size lithology. The result was achieved after subjecting this sieved lithology obtained to analyses using a binocular (transmitted and reflected light) microscope. Minerals were separated in a funnel using bromoform with a specific gravity of about 2.89 (gravity method). The heavy minerals present in lithologic sand units are mainly staurolite, tourmaline, zircon and other opaque minerals including cassiterite. The most dominant non-opaque mineral is staurolite with 27.5% of the total minerals counted in the area. Staurolite is very appreciable in locations AR1 with 60% presence (which is 80% of the non-opaque minerals), AR3, AR5, AR7 and OL15b (each with 30%). OL15b also recorded a better amount of tourmaline (20%); Zircon is better in OL6b with 20% of the heavy minerals available in this location. The source rock predicted is porphyroblastic schists.