New methods in provenance studies based on heavy minerals: an example from Miocene sands in Jylland, Denmark

• Published in: Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) Bulletin
• Main Authors: Knudsen, Christian, Frei, Dirk, Rasmussen, Thomas, Rasmussen, Erik S., McLimans, Roger
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) 2005
• Subjects: Faroe Islands; Greenland; Jylland
• Online Access: https://geusbulletin.org/index.php/geusb/article/view/4827; https://doi.org/10.34194/geusb.v7.4827

New techniques using Computer Controlled Scanning Electron Microscopy (CCSEM) and Laser Ablation – Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) have recently been developed at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) to determine source, compositional variation and sedimentary pathways of sandstones. These new time- and cost-efficient methods are highly applicable in petroleum and mineral exploration. This paper illustrates how the provenance and variability of Miocene titanium-rich sands in western and central Jylland have been investigated, but the methods are presently also used offshore the Faroe Islands and in East and West Greenland. CCSEM and LA-ICP-MS utilise simple sample preparation methods, are relatively rapid and less expensive than conventional methods and yield more information.