Determination of gold, silver and platinum-group elements in geochemical reference materials by direct atomic emission spectral analysis using a multichannel analyser recording device

A procedure for the analysis of geochemical samples has been developed base d on direct atomic-emission spectrometry for the determination of silver, g old and the platinum-group elements. Instrumentation comprised a DC arc emi ssion two-jet plasmatron coupled to a diffraction spectrograph and multicha nnel analyser for recording emission spectra. Spectrum analysis used a comp rehensive library of spectral lines for practically all elements excited us ing this emission source. The software programme for the automatic registra tion of spectra and subsequent data processing are described and results pr esented for a number of geochemical reference materials.