EGA - A FINGERPRINT CHARACTERIZATION OF MINERALS AND ROCKS

Detailed studies of the gas release profiles of minerals and rocks rev eal differences in the degassing rates and degassing temperatures and also in the compositions of the fluids evolved from the samples. The u se of special equipment for the determination of gas release profiles demonstrated that these profiles are characterized either by a continu ous change in the partial pressure or by a spiky degassing process. It is shown that the gas release profiles are governed by the physico-ch emical conditions influencing the formation of and alterations in the solid sample. Determination of the gas release profiles is therefore a n effective tool for the identification and characterization of minera ls and rocks.