The automated photometric determination of total fluorine in mineral exploration

An analytical method previously applied to the determination of fluorine in rocks and minerals would seem to be ideal for exploration samples such as soils, stream sediments and vegetation. The determination which utilises the Zr-xylenol orange complex is performed on acidified leachates following sodium carbonate fusion. This digestion technique is rapid, simple and amenable to batch sample processing. The method, which is applicable to samples containing from about 10 ppm to over 3% fluorine, is essentially interference free.