Document Type
Report
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
1986
Abstract
The Virginia Division of Mineral Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science jointly made three cruises over the Virginia continental shelf in April and July of 1985 to sample known heavy-mineral sites for minerals of potential economic and/or strategic value. In addition to sampling, side-scan sonar and sub-bottom profiling surveys were performed at a site off Smith Island. At the Smith Island site, as many as four acoustic horizons were detected within the upper 6 meters of sediment. The uppermost seismostratigraphic layer consists of fine and very fine sand and contains the higher concentrations of heavy minerals. There are also higher concentrations of heavy minerals on the flanks of topographic ridges. The average content of heavy minerals for all samples collected is 8 percent by weight.
Keywords
Heavy minerals -- Virginia; Mines and mineral resources -- Virginia
Publication Statement
Open file report (Virginia. Division of Mineral Resources) 86-1; Contribution (Virginia Institute of Marine Science) 1287
Recommended Citation
Berquist, C. R., & Hobbs, C. (1986) Assessment of Economic Heavy Minerals of the Virginia Inner Continental Shelf. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/reports/2315
