Reference Materials Currently Available for the Analysis of Sediment and Particulate Samples

REFERENCE MATERIALS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF SEDIMENT AND PARTICULATE SAMPLES 

A selected list of reference materials (sediments as well as biological tissues) distributed by several Canadian, U.S., and E.U. sources shows a wide range of solid samples that could be used for comparative analysis of major organic elements (Table 4.2). These materials are widely available and have been analyzed for at least some constituents. In addihon, these materials are homogeneous and can be expected to exhibit stable composihons over time. All of the thirty or so listed reference materials. 

The matrices and sources of the sediments listed in Table 4.2 are sometimes unclear. Those that are known are highly weighted toward clastic (quartz- and aluminosilicate-rich) marine sediments from coastal environments. Some of these reference materials, such as MESS-3 (NRC-Canada), MAG-1 (USGS) and the Arabian Sea and Pacific Ocean samples (IAEA 315, and 368), could provide excellent examples of clastic marine sediment representing the main repositories of organic matter in the ocean (Hedges and Keil, 1995). The listed materials fail to include both open-ocean opal and carbonate oozes, as well as pelagic red clays. 

TABLE 4.2 Selected Solid Reference Materials Currently Available from Canadian, U.S., and European Sources with Potential Utility for Marine Organic Studies (See Appendix E for information about obtaining these materials.) 

Selected materials distributed by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC)  

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