Based on the analysis and mathematical statistics of quantitative data on both the heavy minerals and their REE （La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Lu）, trace （Zr, Hf, Th, Ta, U, Rb, Sr, Zn, Co, Ni, Cr, As, Sc） and major （Fe） elements in the surface sediments in the northwestern sea area of Antarctic Peninsula, the authors find that the heavy minerals as the carriers of REE and trace elements should not be overlooked. Q-mode factor analysis of the heavy minerals provides a 3-factor model of the heavy mineral assemblages in the study area, which is mainly controlled by the origin of materials and sea currents. The common factor P1, composed mainly of pyroxene and metal minerals, and common factor P2, composed of hornblende, epidote and accessory minerals, represent two heavy mineral assemblages which are different from each other in both lithological characters and origin of materials. And common factor P3 probably results from mixing of two end members of the above-mentioned assemblages.R-mode group
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