Pseudocyclic activation analysis in geochemistry

For the determination of trace elements in geological materials by means of short-lived radioisotopes, pseudocyclic activation has been shown to be superior to one-shot, cyclic, or cumulative regimes. A pneumatic sample transport system for automatic pseudocyclic activation analysis has been constructed and tested. Suitability for routine analysis of suites of rock samples depends on ease of use and a high degree of mechanical and electronic reliability since a large number of operations are performed automatically. The detection limits obtained for a number of elements with thermal and epithermal neutron flux in several different international rock standards are presented. the method is especially useful for F, Sc, Se, Y, Rh, Ag, Er, and Hf