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Whole rock analysis

Whole rock analytical methods are required when lithogeochemical classification by geochemistry will be applied. Whole rock methods all involve a fusion decomposition that breaks down all minerals in the sample, therefore liberating all elements for analysis. Also, methods for the major rock forming element determinations do not use hydrofluoric acid that volatises Si as SiF₄ so that silicon can be reported.

Whole rock analysis

Both XRF and ICP-AES instruments can be utilised to determine the major rock-forming elements following a lithium borate fusion. These methods are not suitable for samples with base or precious metals mineralisation. Specific commodities such as iron ore, bauxite, and base metal sulphides should be analysed with methods designed for those sample types as the flux and instrument calibration are optimised for them.

Methods available

ALS offers method ME-XRF26 which is an XRF measurement on a fused disc. Alternatively, an ICP-AES measurement method on a fused sample is an option by ME-ICP06. With XRF analysis the fused disc is analysed directly by the instrument, however, when measuring a fused sample by ICP-AES, there is an extra digestion step required to dissolve the fused sample for introduction to the ICP-AES as a solution.

Code	Analytes and ranges (%)								Description
ME_XRF26* 2g sample	Al₂O₃	0.01-100	Fe₂O₃	0.01-100	Na₂O	0.01-10	SrO	0.01-1.5	Fused disc XRF, LOI by furnace or TGA
	BaO	0.01-66	K₂O	0.01-15	P₂O₅	0.01-46	TiO₂	0.01-30
	CaO	0.01-60	MgO	0.01-50	SO₃	0.01-34	LOI	0.01-100
	Cr₂O₃	0.01-10	MnO	0.01-39	SiO₂	0.01-100

*For unmineralised samples with moderate sulphide content, please request ME_XRF06.
For mineralised and/or high sulphide content >4%, please request ME-XRF15c.
Performed on dried sample therefore expected to report slightly higher than ME_XRF06.

Code	Analytes and ranges (%)								Description
ME_ICP06* 2g sample	Al₂O₃	0.01-100	Fe₂O₃	0.01-100	Na₂O	0.01-100	TiO₂	0.01-100	Fused bead, acid digestion and ICP-AES. LOI by furnace or TGA
	BaO	0.01-100	K₂O	0.01-100	P₂O₅	0.01-100	LOI	0.01-100
	CaO	0.01-100	MgO	0.01-100	SiO₂	0.01-100
	Cr₂O₃	0.002-100	MnO	0.01-100	SrO	0.01-100

*For mineralised and/or high sulphide content >4%, please request ME-XRF15c.
Both the ME_XRF26 and ME_ICP06 packages include LOI by furnace or TGA.

Trace elements by lithium borate fusion

Fusion with lithium borate flux followed by acid dissolution of the fused bead coupled with ICP-MS analysis provides a quantitative analytical approach for a broad suite of trace elements. To this, whole rock analytes may be added by analysing the same digested solution by ICP-AES, or base metals from a separate four-acid digestion and ICP-AES.

Methods available

ALS offers method ME-MS81™ to determine trace elements from a fused sample with ICP- MS instrument analysis. To add a whole rock analysis (ME-ICP06) to the trace elements (ME- MS81™) an economical package ME-MS81d is available. There is also an option to add base metals from a four-acid digestion by requesting ME-4ACD81.

Code	Analytes and ranges (ppm)								Description
ME-MS81™ 2g sample	Ba	0.5-10,000	Hf	0.1-10,000	Sn	1-10,000	Y	0.1-10,000	Fused bead, acid digestion and ICP-MS
	Ce	0.1-10,000	Ho	0.01-1,000	Sr	0.1-10,000	Yb	0.03-1,000
	Cr	10-10,000	La	0.1-10,000	Ta	0.1-2,500	Zr	2-10,000
	Cs	0.01-10,000	Lu	0.01-1,000	Tb	0.01-1,000
	Dy	0.05-1,000	Nb	0.1-2,500	Th	0.05-1,000
	Er	0.03-1,000	Nd	0.1-10,000	Tm	0.01-1,000
	Eu	0.02-1,000	Pr	0.02-1,000	U	0.05-1,000
	Ga	0.1-1,000	Rb	0.2-10,000	V	5-10,000
	Gd	0.05-1,000	Sm	0.03-1,000	W	1-10,000

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up an account with ALS?

To set up an account you will need to contact our client services team. They can be messaged using the link on this page or you can call or email your local ALS Geochemistry client services representatives. Contact information is listed in the back of our fee schedule which can be downloaded from this site, or from the site locator.