Organometal(loid) species in geochemical exploration: preliminary qualitative results

Organic and other volatile metal(loid) species (e.g. hydrides) in environmental gases can be determined with high sensitivity and selectivity by low-temperature gas chromatography coupled on-line to plasma mass spectrometry (LTGC/ICPMS). A standard reference solution is analysed simultaneously for calibration of the results as well as for monitoring the excitation conditions in the plasma. This highly sensitive analytical method was applied in field screening tests at Cu and Hg deposits in Germany. In some of the soil gas and soil samples investigated, organic compounds of several elements (e.g. As, Hg) could clearly be identified. The implications of these results with respect to potential use of organometal(loid) species in geochemical exploration are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.