In order to investigate the characteristics of heavy mineral in the Yellow Sea sediment, comprehensive study of heavy minerals was conducted for the first time. We also tried to deduce the migration route and origin of the sediments through the results of heavy mineral assemblage, heavy mineral index, mineral chemistry and morphology. The heavy minerals existed in the study area are mainly composed of epidote, amphibole, garnet, zircon, sphene, rutile, apatite and monazite. The Yellow Sea sediment was classified as six areas based on the type, content and distribution of heavy minerals. Area A has the highest garnet and rutile content. Area B has high zircon and monazite content. In Area C, amphibole and apatite are the highest, while zircon is the lowest. Area D is high in garnet and rutile content, and zircon is low. Area E has high content of amphibole and low content of zircon. Area F is characterized by the highest content of zircon.
There are two distribution patterns in the graph of heavy mineral indexes GZi (garnet-zircon index) and RuZi (rutile-zircon index). It is characterized by area B and F with low index values, area A with moderate index value and area C, D and E with high index values. According to the result of amphibole mineral chemistry, amphibole in study area is calcic amphibole and turned out to be edenite and hornblende. Area A presents edenite. Amphibole of area D and E is hornblende. Area B, C and F are existed in both edenite and hornblende. In the result of garnet mineral chemistry according to classification, the most of garnet was Type A and B. Area A, B and D are Type A. Area C and F are classified as Type B. In area E, Type A and B garnet is distributed. Morphology of the heavy minerals in each area was clearly distinguished. It can be seen that the degree of weathering increases from area A to area B, and area C shows distinct different characteristics regardless of area A and B. In area D, heavy mineral is evenly distributed from stage 1 to stage 6 of weathering. Area E gets more weathering from area E-1 to E-2. In area F, the proportion of heavy minerals that have fresh surface texture, is much higher than in other areas.
We have tried to estimate the source cancer and the source of each region by synthesizing these heavy mineral characteristics. The sediment of area A is a combination origin of metamorphic and igneous rocks, and area B is mainly igneous rock origin. Furthermore, sediment of the two areas is supposed to have flowed from the Korean river. According to the morphology feature, it is believed that the sediment was moved from area A to B by the Korean Coastal Current (KCC). Area D is a multi origin of metamorphic and igneous rocks, probably from the Shandong Peninsula and the Huanghe along the Shandong Coastal Current (SDCC). Area F is highly predominant in igneous rock origin, which is probably derived from the Changjiang along the Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW). Area C and E are not known exactly where they originated. Certainly, the characteristics of heavy mineral in area C and E are different from other areas. Therefore, the sediment origin seems to be different when compared with the rest of the area.