Distribution of heavy mineral assemblages in Wendeng nearshore waters and their implications for sedimentary dynamic environment

97 samples of the heavy minerals of the surface sediments in the Wendeng nearshore waters were separated and identified. The combination and distribution of heavy minerals were studied by means of correlation analysis, Q - type cluster analysis and other mathematical statistics methods. Heavy mineral provinces are established based on the results. Combined with the grain size characteristics of the sediments, we studied sedimentary source and dynamic environment of the area and the shrinkage of Wuleidao Bay. Results show that there are 4 assemblages of heavy minerals, i.e. the biotite-muscovite-weathered mica-chlorite assemblage, ilmenite-magnetite-limonite-zircon-garnet assemblage, augite-hypersthene-diopside—tourmaline assemblage and hornblende—epidote assemblage. And there are five heavy mineral provinces in the study area. The provenance and sedimentary dynamic environment of each mineral province are quite different. Adequate sediment supply and dynamic environment lead to the siltation of Wuleidao Bay, and it will continue to shrink in the future.