Chemical Methods Of Rock Analysis

A practical guide to the methods in general use for the complete analysis of silicate rock material and for the determination of all those elements present in major, minor or trace amounts in silicate and other rocks that are routinely, commonly or occasionally determined by methods that are considered to be essentially chemical in character. Such methods include those based upon spectrophotometry, flame emission spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy, as well as gravimetry, titrimetry and the use of ion-selective electrodes. Separation stages are described in full, using precipitation, solvent extraction, distillation, and ion-ex procedures as appropriate. The third edition has been fully revised and updated.

Analytical methods used in the Geologic Division laboratories of the U.S. Geological Survey for the inorganic chemical analysis of rock and mineral samples.

without an appreciation of what happens in between. The techniques available for the chemical analysis of silicate rocks have undergone a revolution over the last 30 years. However, to use an analytical technique most effectively, No longer is the analytical balance the only instrument used it is essential to understand its analytical characteristics, in for quantitative measurement, as it was in the days of classi particular the excitation mechanism and the response of the cal gravimetric procedures. A wide variety of instrumental signal detection system. In this book, these characteristics techniques is now commonly used for silicate rock analysis, have been described within a framework of practical ana lytical aplications, especially for the routine multi-element including some that incorporate excitation sources and detec tion systems that have been developed only in the last few analysis of silicate rocks. All analytical techniques available years. These instrumental developments now permit a wide for routine silicate rock analysis are discussed, including range of trace elements to be determined on a routine basis. some more specialized procedures. Sufficient detail is In parallel with these exciting advances, users have tended included to provide practitioners of geochemistry with a firm to become more remote from the data production process. base from which to assess current performance, and in some This is, in part, an inevitable result of the widespread intro cases, future developments.

Chemical Analysis of Silicate Rocks is the sixth book in the series, “Methods in Geochemistry and Geophysics. This book provides procedures in chemical analysis of the principal types of silicate rocks and minerals, and it discusses each procedure at length. The book presents different apparatuses and reagents, such as balance and weighs, glassware and porcelain, platinum and substitutes, and filters that are used in the chemical analysis of silicate rocks. Laboratory instruments, such as pH meters, spectrophotometers and flame photometers, are presented in the third chapter. The fourth chapter focuses on the major factors in spectrophotometric methods. The next three chapters cover the common operations in silicate analysis, chemical analysis of silicate rocks, and preparation of the laboratory sample. From chapter eight through 20, each chapter discusses various silicate rocks and minerals, and presents the methods to be used for their chemical analysis. These chemical components are silicon, total iron, titanium, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, ferrous iron, manganese, chromium, alkalies, water and carbon dioxide, phosphorus, and total sulfur. Chapters 21 and 22 offer the formulas of minerals and the determination of specific gravity. The book closes by providing notes on the precision and accuracy of results obtained in silicate rock.