XRF Analysis of Vegetation Samples and its Application to Mineral Exploration

Abstract

Many analysts use a wet or dry oxidation treatment prior to determination of minor and trace elements in non-fossilised vegetation. This stage is often unnecessary for XRFS since the technique is sufficiently sensitive for many purposes to permit the analysis of unashed material. Indeed, inaccurate results may be obtained if volati1es are lost, if no correction is made for loss on ignition, or if such correction is of large magnitude.