The determination, by radioactivation, of small quantities of nickel, cobalt and copper in rocks, marine sediments and meteorites

Abstract

Methods are described for the determination of microgram or smaller quantities of nickel, cobalt and copper; these methods involve neutron activation of the samples in the Hanvell Pile, followed by radiochemical separation of the individual elements using carriers and, finally, comparison of the radioactivity due to these elements from the samples with that from known amounts of the elements that were irradiated simultaneously. The accuracy of the method has been checked for each element by analysing standard samples of steels, and the method can, in fact, be very useful for steel analysis when the levels of the three elements are lower than is convenient for existing methods.The results for terrestrial and oceanic rocks, marine sediments and meteorites are briefly examined with a view to the information they can give on the possibility of meteoritic origin of the nickel in marine sediments. Results are also quoted for the standard granite G1 and diabase W1, for some other rocks, commercial pure irons and, finally, for seaweeds.

Elemental Abundances in Stone Meteorites

“…Atomic abundances of Cu are lower by at least a factor of ten in achondrites as compared to chondrites. Analysis of the Khor Temiki aubrite by Smales et al (1957) gave 8.0±0.3 ppm Cu, in good agreement with our average value of 14±8 ppm for Cu in aubrites. Greenland (1963) found 7 ppm Cu in Nakhla and 3 ppm Cu in Bishopville, again in reasonable agreement with our data, although it is clear that we are very close to the sensitivity limit for Cu determinations via our INAA technique at this level.…”

“…These comparisons do not help to disentangle the true population variabilities from components due to sampling procedures and/or analytical errors, but they do serve to demonstrate that there are no detectable systematic errors in our data. We shall not give the results of these intercomparisons here, with the exception of those for the neutron activation data of Smales et al (1957) which deserve brief comment. Three meteorites have been analyzed in common by these two activation techniques; data for two of them, Ochansk and Mangwendi, agree very well, but data for the third, Bremervorde, disagree in the sense that the Co abundance of Smales et al is just slightly greater than one-half of the INAA result.…”

“…Perhaps the most reliable published data, from the standpoint of analytical accuracy, are those of Smales et al (1957) via radiochemical activation analysis on six ordinary chondrites, an aubrite and a mesosiderite. Their average chondritic Cu value of 90 ppm is in excellent agreement with our INAA averages of 89±21 and 94±16 for ordinary Hand L chondrites (Table 4).…”

Vanadium and Copper in Chondrites

“…Mason, 1963) 80-270 (8) n.i. Greenland and Lovering (1965) 50-117 (5) 49-163 (6) 47-94 (39) ES This work 41-84 (7) 49-57 (3) 44-76 (57) ES Copper, ppm Smales et al (1957) 72-111(14)+ NA Wiik (quoted by Mason, 1963) 100-420 (8) n.i. Greenland and Goles (1965) 128-299(20)+ 113-435(11)+ 65-127 (7) NA Greenland and Lovering (1965) 77-247 (5) 76-255 (6) 53-205 (39) ES Schmitt et al (1970) 84-150(35)+ 94-220 (7) Van Schmus and Wood (1967).…”

Activation Analysis of Certain Arsenic and Antimony-Containing Pharmaceuticals and the Effect of Beta-Emitting Isotopes**School of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.

“…The results are presented in Table 11. 11 Henceforth to be designated as P-32. All shields were constructed according to the same specifications ()/B inch internal diameter X 6/s inch external diameter) and had a minimum thickness of 3 mm.…”