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Indice ZTR
Indice ZTR
ZTR Index
Heavy mineral suites may also be used as an index of maturity using the ZTR
index. The ZTR index is a method of determining how weathered, both
chemically and mechanically a sediment (or a corresponding sedimentary
rock) is. The letters in ZTR stand for 3 common minerals found in ultra-weathered
sediments: zircon, tourmaline, and rutile. Other minerals that can be used along
the ZTR index are garnet, magnetite, sphene, and other minerals from local
provenance sources. The ZTR index is commonly high in beach or littoral zone
depositional environments due to the long transport distances from the source and
the high energy of the environment. These minerals are found in abundance due to
their high specific gravity and resistance to weathering. The ZTR index can also be
used as a scale for the estimation of the degree of modification or maturity of the
entire heavy mineral assemblage.