MINLITH - A program to calculate the normative mineralogy of sedimentary rocks: The reliability of results obtained for deposits of old platforms

The reliability of normative mineral compositions calculated from the chemi cal analyses of sedimentary rocks by the MINLITH program developed for Exce l 5.0 was statistically tested. Quantitative mineralogical compositions bas ed on X-ray diffraction analyses published in Geokhimiya were used as stand ards. The mean square error of the calculation results was determined to be 14-33 rel. %. This indicates that the program permits approximate quantita tive estimates of the mineral composition of sedimentary rocks. Using sedim entary rocks from old platforms as an example, we showed that the compariso n of such estimates allows one to discover systematic trends in the variati ons of the mineral composition of sedimentary rocks, carry out correlation of deposits, and reveal some important features of sedimentation in various basins.