Modern Analytical Geochemistry: An Introduction to Quantitative Chemical Analysis Techniques for Earth, Environmental and Materials Scientists

342 Pages·1997·23.14 MB·English

by  Robin Gill

Modern Analytical Geochemistry
Other tides in the series
An Introduction to Organic Geochemistry
SD Killops and V] Killops
Chemical Thermodynamics for Earth Scientists
Philip Fletcher
Geochemical Data: Evaluation, Presentation, Interpretation
Hugh R. Rollinson
Modern Analytical Geochemistry
An Introduction to Quantitative Chemical
Analysis Techniques for Earth, Environmental
and Materials Scientists
Edited by
Robin Gill
First published 1997 by Pearson Education Limited
Published in 2014 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group,
an informa business
Copyright © 1997, Taylor & Francis.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in
any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or re
trieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research
and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, profession
al practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowl
edge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments
described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of
their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a pro
fessional responsibility.
To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or
editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a
matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of
any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue entry for this title is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-0-582-0-9944-9 (pbk)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog entry for this title is available from the Library of Congress
Set by 16 in 10/12pt Ehrhardt
Contents
Preface vii
Contributors ix
Acknowledgements xii
Chapter 1 What a geochemical analysis means 1
Robin Gill and Michael H. Ramsey
Chapter 2 Sampling and sample preparation 12
Michael H. Ramsey
Chapter 3 Dissolution procedures for geological and environmental
samples 29
J. N. Walsh, Robin Gill and Matthew F. Thirlwall
Chapter 4 Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry
(ICP-AES) 41
J. N. Walsh
Chapter 5 Atomic absorption spectrometry and other solution
methods 67
A. P. Rowland
Chapter 6 X-ray fluorescence spectrometry 87
Godfrey Fitton
Chapter 7 Neutron activation analysis 116
Susan J. Parry
Chapter 8 Thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) 135
M. F. Thirlwall
Chapter 9 Gas source mass spectrometry: isotopic composition of
lighter elements 154
David P. Mattey
Chapter 10 Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry 171
Kym E. Jarvis
vi Contents
Chapter 11 Elemental analysis by spark source mass spectrometry 188
Klaus P. Jochum
Chapter 12 Accelerator mass spectrometry 200
Louis Brown
Chapter 13 Which method should I use? 206
Robin Gill
Chapter 14 Electron beam methods 215
Robin Gill
Chapter 15 Principles of SIMS and modern ion microprobes 235
N. Shimizu
Chapter 16 Analytical techniques in organic chemistry 243
C. Anthony Lewis
Appendix A: Vacuum technology 273
G. A. Ingram
Appendix B: Glossary 281
Appendix C: Symbols and constants used in this book 299
Appendix 0: SI units 302
Bibliography 304
Index 317
Preface
Recent years have seen increasing rigour being applied in many industrialised countries to
the regulation ofi ndustrial emissions and to the quality of water, air, food and soil. This wel
come official concern with the quality of the human habitat will, through the regular moni
toring of environmental media that it implies, have important consequences for the
training of professional environmental scientists. Monitoring agencies will require more
analysts familiar with the special obstacles that compositionally diverse environmental
materials can put in the path of reliable analysis. Professionals who interpret such analyses,
too, though they may not be trained in the the technicalities of geochemical analysis, will
need to recognise the limitations of the analytical methods employed and understand the
quality control mechanisms upon which the industry depends, if they are to draw objective
and reliable conclusions from their data. Surprisingly, few books currently available provide
a comprehensive introduction to this complex and continually evolving area. One of the
purposes of writing this book, therefore, has been to fill this niche and provide, both for
the student of quantitative environmental analysis and for the analysis user, a clear introduc
tion to the many techniques currently in use. The book is also aimed at a more traditional
academic Earth science market, at undergraduate and postgraduate students, at researchers
who need a broad overview, and at teachers and supervisers who want an up-to-date entry
level text that will introduce the important principles of quantitative geochemical analysis
for the newcomer and non-specialist. At a more advanced level this demand has been admir
ably met by Phil Potts' Handbook oJsilicate rock analysis, but, having taught the subject to
undergraduate and masters students for some years, we are convinced of the need for an
introductory text more in keeping with the student budget and a little easier to carry around!
The book thus aims to provide the student, the professional user of geochemical analyses
and, we hope, a wider readership with an understanding of the whole spectrum of analytical
methods that can be applied to Earth and environmental materials, together with a critical
appreciation of their relative merits and limitations. It has been structured to cater for read
ers with widely varying backgrounds. Firstly there is an extensive glossary (Appendix B),
and terms defined there are highlighted in bold characters where they first appear in the
text. Secondly we have used text/graphic boxes in all chapters in a variety of ways: they pro
vide a useful place to put basic information that might be referred to from more than one
chapter, they can be used to provide elementary material that will not be required by all
readers, and they are also useful for more specialised information that will be of interest
only to a section of readers, or at a second reading. The authorship of each box is indicated
by the initials at the end. Finally, for readers not familiar with 'diff pumps' and the like,
there is an appendix (A) summarising the elements of vacuum technique.
Special thanks are due to Godfrey Fitton, Anthony Lewis and Philip Rowland, who
stepped in at a late stage to write chapters that others had failed to deliver. I am also grate
ful to the following who have been kind enough to provide expert reviews of individual
chapters or who have contributed in other ways: Geoff Abbott, John Bailey, Joel Baker,
viii Preface
Jon Davidson, Tony Fallick, Richard Hinton, Gerry Ingram, Ian Jarvis, Andrew Kinsey,
Lotte Melchior Larsen, Susan Parry, Stephen Reed, Nick Rogers, Paul Shand and John
Williams. I am indebted to Martin Flower and Don Fraser for suggesting one or two con
tributors.
Above all I thank my family (especially Mary my wife) for their limitless forbearance!
Robin Gill
Royal Holloway, University o/London
Contributors
Louis Brown Department of Terrestrial Magnetism
Carnegie Institution
Washington DC 20015
USA
Godfrey Fitton Grant Institute of Geology
University of Edinburgh
West Mains Road
Edinburgh EH9 3JW
United Kingdom
Robin C. o. Gill Department of Geology
Royal Holloway
University of London
Egham
Surrey TW20 OEX
United Kingdom
Gerry Ingram Department of Geology
Royal Holloway
University of London
Egham
Surrey TW20 OEX
United Kingdom
K ym E. Jarvis Natural Environment Research Council ICP-MS Facility
Centre for Analytical Research in the Environment
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Silwood Park
Ascot
Berkshire SL5 7TE
United Kingdom
Klaus P. Jochum Max Planck-Institut fur Chemie,
Abteilung Geochemie
Saarstrasse 23
Postfach 3060
D-65oo Mainz
Germany