Torshab Mine Stone

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this paper is to present the heavy-mineral techniques that
have been successfully developed and employed in the solution of numerous
stratigraphic correlation problems during the past three decades by geologists of
the Mene Grande Oil Company, a Venezuelan subsidiary of the Gulf Oil Corpo-
ration. About 55,000 heavy-mineral slides have been examined during the course
of the company's mineral work in Venezuela; of this number, about 15,000 have
been investigated by the writer.
The study of heavy minerals has a great practical value in the identification
and correlation of stratigraphic units in Venezuela, and aids in deciphering events
in the geologic history of many areas.
Geographic and geologic features of the Republic of Venezuela are shown on
Bucher's (1950) 1:1,000,000 map, published by the Geological Society of Amer-
ica.

GENERAL STATEMENTS
Along with other modern methods of petroleum exploration, heavy-mineral
studies were introduced into the petroleum industry, shortly after the First World
War, in an effort to obtain more precise stratigraphic data in surface and sub-
surface investigations (Kaufmann, 1950). A great amount of information has
been obtained with the continued use of these techniques, and at present mineral-
stratigraphic studies are an integral part of exploration and development pro-
grams.
The term "heavy minerals" is generally applied to minor accessory mineral
constituents of rocks (Fig. i) having ordinarily specific gravities higher than
' Manuscript received, November 10, 1955.
' Geologist, Mene Grande Oil Company. This article is largely a compilation of the work of
earlier investigators, in particular C. W. Flagler, H. D. Hedberg, G. E. Manger, A. Pyre, and
L. C. Sass, to whom appreciative recognition is expressed; however, the writer alone is responsible for
errors of fact or interpretation. Primary acknowledgment is due to the management of Mene Grande
Oil Company and to H. J. Funkhouser, chief geologist, for kindly permitting this publication and for
furnishing facilities that made it possible. Sincere thanks are also extended to the colleagues of the
Stratigraphic Laboratory, under the direction of H. H. Renz, for valuable advice during the prepara-
tion of this report. The manuscript has had the benefit of constructive criticism by H. D. Hedberg
and L. C. Sass, Gulf Oil Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania






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