Schwermineral-Untersuchungen in quartär-zeitlichen Sanden nordwestlich von Hannover

A total of 117 samples of quarternary sediments, mostly sands, from a region NW of Hannover (Lower Saxony) has been investigated with regard to their content of heavy minerals. The absolute percentage of transparent heavy minerals approximates 0.2 Vol.%. If several samples of glaciofluvial sands (Drenthe-stage) or dune sands (Late Weichsel-stage to Holocene) are taken from one outcrop they show great similarities in their heavy minerals contents. Glaciofluvial sands of the Elster-stage evidently have less Garnet, Hornblende and minerals of volcanic origin (Augite, partly also Orthopyroxenes, Oxyhornblende and Olivine) than those of the Drenthe-stage, Weichsel-stage, and the Holocene. All these groups hold nearly the same average assemblages of heavy mineral, thus indicating that within the Drenthe-stage or later material from north and from south has been mixed and/or reworked. In the area investigated the proportions of heavy minerals do not help to identify either the stratigraphic position or the way of deposition of different sandy sediments younger than the Elster-stage. The distributional pattern of several heavy minerals point out that Kyanite, Hornblende and Epidote have been transported predominantly from the north, whereas Garnet and Staurolite have sources both in the north and the south. Tourmaline, Apatite and the minerals of volcanic origin mainly must be derived from the south. All results obtained in the region examined should not be transferred to other zones of the lowlands of Northern Germany automatically.