Determinations of minor and major elements in stream sediments for geochemical mapping

Abstract

Determinations of minor and major elements in stream sediments were performed by total decomposition (sintering or digestion) of sample with a mixture of mineral acids, or by non-destructive technique (pressing pellets). In order to determine the elements, atomie absorption spectrometry (AAS) for As, Sb, Se, Bi, Hg, Tl; atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES) for Al, B, Be, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Ti, V, W; Zn; optical emission spectrometry (OES) for Sn, and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) for Ba, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr were used.