Determination of trace elements in minerals by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A review of trace elements determination in minerals by electrothermal atom ic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is given. There are many valid reasons t o analyze the trace elements content in different minerals: to determine th e purity of minerals, to determine the presence of very rare but important elements in the minerals which could be extracted and used, and to obtain d ata which give very important information on the geology of the mines and m ineral localities. Also, sometimes these results give an explanation about background radiation of the localities, etc. Sample preparation, matrix int erference investigation,matrix modification, separation and concentration m ethods in trace elements determination in minerals by ETAAS are presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.