Organometal(loid) species in geochemical exploration: preliminary qualitative results

Organic and other volatile metal(loid) species (e.g. hydrides) in environme ntal gases can be determined with high sensitivity and selectivity by low-t emperature gas chromatography coupled on-line to plasma mass spectrometry ( LTGC/ICPMS). A standard reference solution is analysed simultaneously for c alibration of the results as well as for monitoring the excitation conditio ns in the plasma. This highly sensitive analytical method was applied in fi eld screening tests at Cu and Hg deposits in Germany. In some of the soil g as and soil samples investigated, organic compounds of several elements (e. g. As, Hg) could clearly be identified. The implications of these results w ith respect to potential use of organometal(loid) species in geochemical ex ploration are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .