DETERMINATION OF THE COLD CONTENT IN GEOGAS BY RESONANCE IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY

A resonance ionization mass spectrometric technique for the ultratrace determination of An in geogas samples was developed. A three-step exc itation scheme leading to an autoionizing state was used for detecting the Au content of 60 geogas samples combined with a graphite furnace electrothermal atomizer. In order to increase the selectivity and dete ction efficiency, a linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer was built and tested. The experimental results are in good agreement with those obtained by neutron activation analysis. The study of the Au distribut ion in geogas is of great interest in prospecting for gold deposits.