To: Tom Stalcup, NHMFL May 18th, 1998
Here are the concentrations (in ppm) on the adhesive and the leached
adhesive. The trace element ratios are more accurate than the
trace element concentrations. Concentrations are better than 20%,
ratios are better than 10% precision. The exception is Mg in the
adhesive. The adhesive has a large amount of Mg and our standards
are not calibrated to include these high concentrations. Therefore,
the error on the Mg in the adhesive is estimated at 50%. The detection
limit for all elements are just several parts per billion.
dl is detection limit
Methodology:
The samples were dissolved in a mixture of nitric, hydrochloric
and hydrofluoric acid, dried down and taken up in 1% nitric acid.
During this process a small (less than 1%) residue formed. Samples
were analyzed with a magnetic sector inductive coupled plasma
mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The instrument was calibrated with
commercially obtained ICP-MS standard solutions.
Vincent J.M. Salters
Science Scholar, National High Magnetic
Field Laboratory
and Adjunct Professor, Department of Geology,
Florida State University