Title: A technique for determining low concentrations of total carbonate in geologic materials
Abstract: Even small quantities of carbonate minerals can impart a significant acid-neutralizing capacity to soils impacted by acid waters (rain, leachate from pyritic mine tailings, etc.). A simple analytical technique is presented for determining the carbonate content of geologic materials containing less than 1% carbonate minerals. Samples are acidified and the evolved CO2 measured accurately, using a modified headspace gas-chromatographic technique. Less than 0.001 wt.% calcite can be accurately detected in geologic samples. Six replicate analyses of a synthetic sample containing 0.075 wt.% calcite produced a mean calcite content of 0.079 wt.% with a standard deviation of 4.7% of the mean. A major problem in carbonate determinations where waters high in Fe2+ are encountered, is the loss of carbonates resulting from acid production vis Fe2+ oxidation during sample collection and handling.
Publication Year: 1982
Publication Date: 1982-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 22
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