The distributions and origins of the light clastic minerals in the surface sediments of the Eastern South China Sea

A study on the 158 surface sediment samples which were collected from the Eastern South China Sea shows that the light minerals in the sediments have several sources. The content of carbonate authigenic minerals are high. The distribution of the light minerals, such as moscovite, suggest that most terrigenous detritus were derived from the Southern China Continent, and they have reached 17°N. Volcanic glasses occupied the mid-south part of the study area, and they have varied sources.