Abstract: In This paper, quantitative studies are made of the space distribution and variation of heavy minerals in the sediments of the East China Sea continental shelf using mathematic statistical methods.The paper discusses the effect of geological processes on the distribution and changes of the heavy minerals since the late Pleistocene, and suggests regional and local variatipn models of heavy minerals in theEast China Sea. Regression analyses of 122 samples taken from the continental shelf indicate that the change of content of heavy minerals caused by the change of medium grain size in sedment ranges only from 0.04% to 13%,which shows that hydraulic fractionation by sediment size has less effect on dispersion and concentration o# heavy minerals.