Abstract: Sensitive multi‐element analytical techniques were applied to determine 24 dissolved trace components in 25 different water samples from a 10 km2 zone in Brittany, France. Correspondence factor and multiple regression analyses showed that the elements considered are influenced mainly by the presence of: Fe‐Mn oxide accumulations, a local poly‐metallic sulfide mineralization, and non‐mineralized host rocks, agricultural activity and abundant organic material in local swamps. Via these numerical techniques the location of the poly‐metallic ore body can be derived from the data set.

Abstract: Although the analysis of thermal water by spark-source mass spectrometry (SSMS) is rather timeconsuming, it allows the detection of about 20 elements of geochemical interest down to the ppb-level. A physical preconcentration is proposed in order to collect elements having quite different chemical properties, e.g. alkalis, transition elements, and elements occurring in anionic form. The relative sensitivity factors appear to be rather independent of the salt content of the graphite electrodes. Contrary to neutron activation analysis, SSMS has a quite uniform elemental sensitivity, and allows to determine elements for which neutron activation is not suitable, e.g. Sn and Pb. The precision of SSMS is however by a factor of about 2 worse than that obtained for neutron activation.

Abstract: Sensitive multi-element analysis techniques were applied to water samples collected in the vicinity of a small Zn-Pb-Cu sulfide mineralization in the region of Menez-Albot (Finistère, France). The variation of the trace-element content along a local stream shows the presence of the mineralization, mainly through a simultaneous positive anomaly in solution for a group of about 10 elements (e.g. Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sb) which are connected with this type of mineralization. The anomaly decreases steeply due to the influx of swamp water rich in Fe, Mn and organic matter. The precipitation barrier is reflected in the stream sediment composition. Contamination from fertilizers was observed in some samples.

Abstract: The ArmstrongBuseck correction for absorption effects in electron probe x-ray microanalysis of particles considers seven specific particle shapes, and for these geometries exact correction equations are used. This procedure implies that the analyst has to associate the particle to be analysed with a certain particle type; an arbitrary relative thickness is sometimes assumed. A theoretical study was made of this absorption correction as a function of the particle composition, type and thickness for micrometre-sized particles. It appears that a correct choice of the particle type is critical. However, when the analytical results are normalized to 100%, the differences between the models are much less pronounced, and it is justified to assume a spherical model in all cases.

Abstract: As a part of the NASA Global Tropospheric Experiment (GTE), aerosols were sampled in the tropical rain forest of the Amazon Basin during the Amazon Boundary Layer Experiment (ABLE 2B) in April and May 1987, in the wet season, when no forest burning occurs. Fine (dp < 2.0 μm) and coarse (2.0 < dp < 15 μm) aerosol fractions were collected using stacked filter units, at three sites under the forest canopy and at three levels of a tower inside the jungle. Particle-induced X ray emission (PIXE) was used to measure concentrations of 22 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, and Pb). Morphological and trace element measurements of individual particles were carried out by automated electron probe X ray microanalysis. Gravimetric analysis was performed to obtain the fine and coarse aerosol mass concentration. Absolute factor analysis was used to interpret the large data set of the trace element concentrations and to obtain elemental source profiles. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to derive groups of individual particles. The concentrations of soil dust related elements (Al, Si, Ti, Fe, Mn) were 5 times larger in the wet season compared to the 1985 ABLE 2A dry season experiment. Biogenic aerosol related elements in the fine fraction showed lower concentrations in the wet season. Fine aerosol mass concentration averaged only 2.1±0.7 μg m−3, while the average coarse mass concentration was 6.1±1.8 μg m −3. Sulphur concentrations averaged 76±14 ng m −3 in the fine fraction and 37±9 ng m −3 in the coarse fraction. Biogenic aerosol-related elements were dominant under the forest canopy, while soil dust dominated at the top of the forest canopy. Only two factors explained about 90% of the data variability for the fine and coarse aerosol fractions. These were soil dust (represented mainly by Al, Si, Ti, Mn, and Fe) and biogenic aerosol (represented by K, P, Cl, S, Zn, and the aerosol mass concentration). Source profiles showed a homogeneous aerosol distribution with similar elemental compositions at the different sampling sites. Enrichment factor calculations revealed a soil dust elemental profile similar to the average bulk soil composition, and a biogenic component similar to the plant bulk elemental composition. Total aerosol mass source apportionment showed that biogenic particles account for 5595% of the airborne concentrations. The analysis of individual aerosol particles showed that the biogenic particles consist of leaf fragments, pollen grains, fungi, algae, and other types of particles. Several groups of particles with K, Cl, P, S, and Ca as minor elements could easily be identified as biogenic particles on the basis of their morphology. Considering the vast area of tropical rain forests and the concentrations measured in this work, it is possible that biogenic particles can play an important role in the global aerosol budget and in the global biogeochemical cycles of various elements.