A spectrochemical method for the semiquantitative analysis of rocks, minerals, and ores

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Myers, A. T. Havens, Raymond Gilbert Dunton, Pauline J.
Copyright Year	1961
Abstract	A visual comparison method for semiquantitative spectrochemical analysis of a powder by d-c arc technique is described. This method has been applied to a wide variety of geological materials, including rocks, minerals, and ores. As 68 elements are routinely looked for, the method has proven useful for the detection of elements not suspected of being present in the samples analyzed. The speed of the analysis and the method of reporting results to % of an order of magnitude have made this procedure of great value in reconnaissance studies. A totalenergy technique is used. Large matrix effects are eliminated between samples and the standards used for comparison, by the addition of graphite to both samples and standards; silica is added to samples only if the samples are low in silica content. The plate-emulsion error is minimized by a light-intensity adjustment for each new batch of plates. The limits of detection and spectral lines used for analysis are shown for 68 elements. The elements are grouped so that only 20 sets of standards are required. Detailed examples for the preparation of the standards are given. A total of 682 comparisons are made between results by this semiquantitative spectrochemical method and by quantitative methods. This comparison shows that the semiquantitative spectrochemical results reported in intervals of % order of magnitude may be expected to include the quantitative value at least 60 percent of the time.
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.3133/b1084I
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1084i/report.pdf
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.3133/b1084I
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article