Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 April 2021
The statistical analysis of geochemical data employs the main statistical techniques of averaging, probability distributions, correlation, regression, multivariate analysis and discriminant analysis. A particular problem with major element geochemical data is that it is constrained; that is, the compositions sum to 100% and the data are ‘closed’. A related problem arises when ternary plots are used to display geochemical data. Techniques are described to accommodate the problems associated with compositional data which include log-ratio conversions and the biplot diagram. Further statistical problems arise in the area of ratio correlation as advocated in Pearce element ratio diagrams, which is not recommended. Applications to trace elements and radiogenic isotope correlations are discussed. The details of discriminant analysis are outlined as a prelude to a more detailed discussion of tectonic discrimination diagrams considered in Chapter 5.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.