The heavy minerals of some coastal sand deposits in Southwest Sardinia. Application of electron microanalysis and beneficiation tests

In the past years, the Centro Studi Geominerari e Mineralurgici of the C.N.R. of Cagliari has carried out an investigation on sand deposits located along the coasts and the continental shelf of Sardinia. These studies determined titanomagnetite, zircon, cassiterite, monazite and V, Hf, REE, Th, etc., particularly in the Santa Margherita area (southwestern Sardinia). The economic interest of some of these mineral species and elements suggested the need for further investigation. Beneficiation tests, plasma chemical analyses and electron-microprobe analyses were therefore carried out. The most significant aspects of the research and the results obtained are reported for each sampled zone. © 1991.