Determination of calcium, magnesium, manganese, strontium, sodium and iron in the carbonate fraction of limestones and dolomites

A rapid atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) method for the determination of Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr, Na and Fe in limestones and dolomites is described. After cold 1 M hydrochloric acid digestion, potassium chloride is added as a releasing agent and all elements are analysed on a single 100 × dilution. The AAS sensitivity for Ca and Mg is reduced by using the spectral overlap of Ge 422.66-nm and V 285.17-nm non-resonance lines with Ca 422.67-nm and Mg 285.21-nm resonance lines, respectively. Results are reported for four international standards. The extent of any trace element leaching from clay minerals by hydrochloric acid was determined by treating 21 Tasmanian limestones and dolomites with both weak 0.3 M acetic acid and the stronger 1 M hydrochloric acid. Analyses of Mn, Sr and Na show little difference between acids whereas Fe is dependent on acid strength.

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