A chemical analysis is a measurement of the chemical composition of the sediment from a borehole. Many different analytical methods are available to determine the specific chemical characteristics of all or part of the sampled material. The result of each analysis reflects not only the type of sediment, but also the sample size and the way the sample was prepared (i.e. pretreated) for the analysis. The most common method of analysis is XRF (X-ray fluorescence), which is used to determine the elemental composition of samples, especially metallic elements. Other frequently used methods of analysis are ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy),which are geared to the detection of metallic and non-metallic major and trace elements. In these spectroscopic methods, the sample is dissolved before analysis. Calcium carbonate and organic matter, which are important environmental chemical properties of sediments, are measured using TGA (thermogravimetric analysis).
Chemical analyses on the map
Chemical analyses can be found on the map under Subsurface research, sub-headings Geological borehole research and Seabed subsurface research.