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Mineral Analysis and Analysts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

M. H. Hey
M. H. Hey*
Affiliation:
British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, S.W. 7
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Summary

The history of the chemical analysis of minerals is shortly reviewed. Following rapid developments between 1770 and 1810, few important changes took place for close on 130 years; new procedures led to simpler and more convenient separations but not, on the whole, to greater accuracy. The older analyses are, in general, neither worse nor better than modern ones, and analyses can only be assessed on internal evidence, if available, or on the reputation of the analyst.

The development of microchemical and colorimetric techniques in the last 40 years has resulted in a great reduction in the amount of material required for a mineral analysis; 5 to 20 mg is usually sufficient, and in favourable cases a complete analysis may be possible on less than I mg. Some modern instrumental methods are considered, and it is concluded that they cannot wholly replace the classical wet-chemical methods in their modern developments.

W. F. Hillebrand (1894) deplored the tendency of some petrologists to demand large numbers of very incomplete rock analyses, and his remarks are considered apposite today.

Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 39 , Issue 301 , March 1973 , pp. 4 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1973

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