Abstract From previous work, some simple, general rules can be written for determining with binary mixtures which of the two components is jetsam. In general, if there is a density difference, it is the denser. This paper reports some experiments which show that in certain special cases this density rule is broken. If the dense particles are sufficiently small (size ratio The concept of segregation maps is introduced as a convenient way of showing for a particular set of conditions whether small dense particles are jetsam or flotsam, or whether the whole system is well mixed. Finally, some simple theoretical arguments are put forward to explain the observations.