Abstract. Strong constraints can be placed on the origin of heterogeneity of seismic wave velocities and density if the observed ratios of various parameters are compared with mineral physics predictions. They include the shear to compressional wave velocity heterogeneity ratio, Rs/p --• log Vs /• log Vp, the bulk sound to shear wave velocity heterogeneity ratio, R•/s --6 log V• /6 log Vs, and the density to velocity heterogeneity ratio, R,,,,p --6 log p /6 log V,,p.