LCZO -- Soil Geochemistry -- X-ray Florescence -- Luquillo Mountains -- (2010-2010)

Authors:

C. Nawal F.N. Scatena

Owners:

CZO Luquillo CZO National

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Created:

Nov 19, 2019 at 3:58 a.m.

Last updated:

Dec 23, 2019 at 10:49 p.m.

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Abstract

X-ray Florescence (XRF) is a widely used non-destructive method that measures the elemental composition of materials. This technology was applied to investigate the rocks and sediments in the Luquillo Mountains / El Yunque region of Puerto Rico. Initial testing of wet and dry sediments revealed that the machine records higher elemental concentrations in dry compared to wet sediments as it seems that the water molecules interfere with the X-ray beam on wet samples. The XRF method on dried samples produced reliable results and allowed for the chemical separation of the five basic bedrock types found in the Luquillo Mountains. Of the volcanoclastic the Fajardo Formation can be distinguished from the others by its concentration of Barium (Ba) and Rubidium (Rb). The Unnamed formation was distinguished by Copper (Cu) and the Hato Puerto Formation was distinguished by Nickel (Ni) and Strontium (Sr). The Rio Blanco granodiorite is the youngest rock type of the region and was the only formation whose elemental chemistry was not distinguishable from the othersapparently because it was formed directly from the basic magma that also formed the Luquillo Mountains volcanic rocks. Recent studies have found high levels of Mercury (Hg) in Luquillo stream water. Knowing that the Luquillo region was heavily mined for Gold (Ag) and Silver (Au), the Hg used in historic mining is a possible source of the elevated Hg values. The XRF analysis indicated small quantities of Hg in some rocks but no Hg was found in the sediments and soils surrounding the historic mining sites. Therefore if Hg had been used in historic mining operations it is no longer apparent in the sediments and has presumably been removed by erosion of the site.

Subject Keywords

Coverage

Spatial

Coordinate System/Geographic Projection:

WGS 84 EPSG:4326

Coordinate Units:

Decimal degrees

Place/Area Name:

Northeastern Puerto Rico and the Luquillo Mountains, Luquillo Mountains

North Latitude

18.3240°

East Longitude

-65.8151°

South Latitude

18.3233°

West Longitude

-65.8181°

Temporal

Start Date:	03/01/2010
End Date:	04/30/2010

Streets Terrain Satelite

Spatial Extent

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Additional Metadata

Name	Value
czos	Luquillo
czo_id	3422
citation	Nawal, C. Scatena, F.N. Exploration of the Geological Formations of the Luquillo Mountain Range of North Eastern Puerto Rico using X-ray Florescence. Masters Thesis 2010. University of Pennsylvania.
keywords	X-ray Florescence, Soil Geochemistry
subtitle	Exploration of the Geological Formations of the Luquillo Mountain Range of North Eastern Puerto Rico using X-ray Florescence
variables	Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Ba, Titanium, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Copper, Zinc, Rubidium, Strontium, Zirconium, Barium
disciplines	Geochemistry / Mineralogy

How to Cite

Nawal, C., F. Scatena (2019). LCZO -- Soil Geochemistry -- X-ray Florescence -- Luquillo Mountains -- (2010-2010), HydroShare, http://www.hydroshare.org/resource/136cc235e72e45f599913d9931132915

This resource is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution CC BY.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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