Determination of trace elements in minerals by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A review of trace elements determination in minerals by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is given. There are many valid reasons to analyze the trace elements content in different minerals: to determine the 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 data which give very important information on the geology of the mines and mineral localities. Also, sometimes these results give an explanation about background radiation of the localities, etc. Sample preparation, matrix interference investigation,matrix modification, separation and concentration methods in trace elements determination in minerals by ETAAS are presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.