Field determination of nanogram quantities of mercury in soils and rocks

• DOI: 10.3133/ofr6571
• Publication Date: 2018-08-14T22:24:51Z
• Authors: Margaret Hinkle; Kam Wo Leong; F. N. Ward
• Keywords: Mercury; Nitrosobenzene

A method for determining nanogram quantities of mercury in geological materials is based on the catalytic effect reaction ferrocyanide with nitrosobenzene to produce a violet-covered compound whose intensity if proportional present. The released by heating sample soil or crushed rock about 650°C. As little as 30 nanograms (30 parts per billion 1 gram sample) can be detected. reliability adequate permit its use geochemical surveys that utilize pathfinder element.