Rapid partial dissolution method in combination with AAS techniques for use in geochemical exploration

A method for the rapid chemical analysis of soils and sediment samples using partial dissolution and atomic absorption techniques is proposed for geochemical exploration studies. Attack by aqua regia was used on 10-g sample sizes for the rapid partial decomposition of soil and sediment samples. Estimation of major, minor, and trace elements, such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, and Sb was achieved using flame atomic absorption spectroscopty (FAAS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) with Zeeman background correction. Critical parameters such as sample weight used for digestion, acid digestion, calibration, optimization of instrumental conditions, detection limits, accuracy, and precision are discussed in detail. The results obtained on some international geochemical exploration reference samples are presented.