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Correlation in Hydrocarbon Exploration pp 217–230Cite as

Use of heavy minerals in lithostratigraphic correlation, with examples from Brent sandstones of the northern North Sea

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Abstract

Hydraulic and diagenetic effects may cause major problems in the correlation of sandstones on the basis of their heavy mineral content. The study of minerals with similar hydraulic and diagenetic behaviour helps to minimize the problems, with mineral pairs such as apatite-tourmaline and zircon-rutile being particularly useful. Varietal studies of individual mineral species minimize these possible errors further. Optical differentiation of colour or habit of minerals such as tourmaline is a somewhat subjective varietal method, whereas single-grain geochemical analysis, such as microprobe analysis of detrital garnet, avoids the problem of subjectivity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, NG12 5GG, UK

    A. C. Morton

  2. Institute for Energy Technology, PO Box 40, N-2007, Kjeller, Norway

    J. P. Stiberg & H. Qvale

  3. Statoil, Forus, PO Box 300, N-4001, Stavanger, Norway

    A. Hurst

Authors
  1. A. C. Morton
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  2. J. P. Stiberg
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  3. A. Hurst
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  4. H. Qvale
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graham and Trotman Limited, Sterling House, 66 Wilton Road, London, SWIV 1DE, UK

    J. D. Collinson (Chairman) (Chairman)

  2. Graham and Trotman Inc., Kluwer Academic Publishers Group, 101 Philip Drive, Assinippi Park, Norwell, MA, 02061, USA

    J. D. Collinson (Chairman) (Chairman)

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© 1989 Norwegian Petroleum Society

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Morton, A.C., Stiberg, J.P., Hurst, A., Qvale, H. (1989). Use of heavy minerals in lithostratigraphic correlation, with examples from Brent sandstones of the northern North Sea. In: Collinson, J.D. (eds) Correlation in Hydrocarbon Exploration. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1149-9_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1149-9_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7010-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1149-9

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