Major element results

In addition to micro-XRF analyses, 13 samples were analyzed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) (ALS Chemex) to compare major element results. Although some discrepancies were observed, the difference between XRF and micro-XRF was relatively consistent and it is therefore possible to establish a correction factor for each element. 

The focus of this research and other mass balance studies has been on trace elements (1,2,3). However, in future studies on speciation it will be necessary to know the concentrations of the elements present in amounts above 1%. Therefore, analyses of the oil shale and spent shale samples were performed for these elements. Atomic absorption and colorimetry were used for many of these analyses. Some major element results also were obtained by the broad-range instrumental analysis surveys. The comparison of the results obtained by the different techniques shows large discrepancies. 

Since elemental RSFs are reasonably similar for electron-gas SNMSd, a standardless analysis will result in compositions accurate to within a factor of 5 for matrices with major element RSFs close to the average, and to within a factor of 25 for matrices with major element RSFs at the extreme values. More importantly. 

ABSTRACT A geochemical analysis of major, trace and rare earth elements was carried out in beach sands collected from the Northeastern coast of Mexico in order to observe the spatial trends along three different beaches. Results show that major elements patterns along the beaches are controlled by heavy minerals and plutonic and sedimentary input towards the coast. In addition, trace elements tendencies indicate that the beach sands are influenced by the presence of magnetite. Finally, the differences in Eu anomalies indicate a mix of felsic to mafic and intermediate rocks and feldspar weathering. 

The distribution of the major elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K,. ..) in soils is well known to be governed by ion-exchange processes (1). The behaviour of transition elements such as Co, Ni, Cd, Cu, etc. in natural systems (soils, sediments) often results from a combination of different effects such as precipitation, sorption in oxides, exchange in clay minerals and complexation with organic... 

Present M sbauer Studies of Natural Pyroxenes and Olivines. Table IX gives the major element chemical compositions of the silicate minerals examined in this study. Table X compares the Mossbauer parameters of these minerals, while Figures 9-13 show representative Mossbauer spectra. Fayalite (Figure 9) is the only olivine in this group. The two lines are, however, somewhat broadened (0.35 and 0.39 mm./ sec.) compared with the width of natural iron foil lines observed with our source (0.24 mm./sec.) and suggest the near coincidence of two quadrupole-split doublets resulting from Mi and M2 sites. Analysis of this "two-line spectrum into a four-line spectrum in the manner described by Evans et al (11) could possibly yield parameters for the two iron sites, but this was not undertaken since both lines appear symmetric. The "two-line quadrupole splitting of 2.78 mm./sec. is somewhat smaller... 

Geochemical analyses were conducted on unpolished thin sections 30 pm thick using micro-XRF - EDAC Eagle III mapping at the I Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi (UQAC). Use of the micro-XRF permits analyses of major element compositions with a relatively fast, nondestructive, in situ method through points or maps. The parameters (Table 1) were selected in order to optimize the speed and quality of the results on the basis of micro-probe analyses of chlorite. 

All aspects of the QC assessment yielded impressive results. There was no contamination by sample processing. In blanks, very low concentrations (<5 ppb) of some major elements were detected and most trace elements were not... 

Year Three Complete analysis of trace elements by ICP-MS at Lawrence University analysis of major elements by XRF at Macalester College (up to 100 samples) determination of Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic ratios of a selection of Wolf and Darwin samples by TIMS at Cornell (up to 30 samples). Interpretation of geochemical data, modeling of melting parameters. Presentation of results at Fall AGU meeting by undergraduate student(s). Preparation for fieldwork. 

In order to obtain information about the exchange processes between the basalt and the salt, leaching experiments were performed with 1.5 m HC1 on basalt powder samples that had previously been washed in bi-distilled water in order to remove salt minerals. The H20-washed whole rock samples, as well as the resulting leachate and residue fractions have been analysed for major elements, REE, and for Sr isotopes. 

The primary component of coal is carbonaceous material resulting from the accumulation and decay of plant matter in marine or freshwater environments and marshes (Hessley et al. 1986). As plant matter accumulates it becomes humified and may eventually be consolidated into coal through a process called coalification. In the organic matrix, C is the major element by weight, with smaller amounts of H, O, N, and S, and many trace elements. The abundance of these trace elements is highly variable, but based on the reported trends in the affinity of elements for the organic fraction of coal (Table 1), elements such as B, Ge, Be, Ti, and V are expected to exist primarily within the organics in coal. 

It should be possible, through a unification of chemical and mineral structure data and the results of experimental studies on silicate phase equilibria, to develop a general picture of clay mineralogy based upon the known chemical behavior of phyllosilicates under various physical conditions. The major elements for such a study are presently available in a rough outline. It is fact the purpose of this essay to summarize the available information and create a general outline of clay mineral petrology. It is hoped that such an attempt meets with some success and, more important in the long run, that such an attempt will interest others in similar exercises, especially those of precision and revision. 

Spectral interferences. These interferences result from the inability of an instrument to separate a spectral line emitted by a specific analyte from light emitted by other neutral atoms or ions. These interferences are particularly serious in ICP-OES where atomic spectra are complex because of the high temperatures of the ICP. Complex spectra are most troublesome when produced by the major constituents of a sample. This is because spectral lines from other analytes tend to be overlapped by lines from the major elements. Examples of elements that produce complex line spectra are Fe, Ti, Mn, U, the lanthanides and noble metals. To some extent, spectral complexity can be overcome by the use of high-resolution spectrometers. However, in some cases the only choice is to select alternative spectral lines from the analyte or use correction procedures. 

Since the work of Baxter et al. [75,76] around 1990, we have not found many more recent applications and it was not until 2003 that Felipe-Sotelo et al. [77] presented another application. They considered a problem where a major element (Fe) caused spectral and chemical interferences on a minor element (Cr), which had to be quantified in natural waters. They demonstrated that linear PLS handled (eventual) nonlinearities since polynomial PLS and locally weighted regression (nonlinear models) did not outperform its results. Further, it was found that linear PLS was able to model three typical effects which currently occur in ETAAS peak shift, peak enhancement (depletion) and random noise. 

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