Browsing by Author "Quin, Bertram Francis"

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    Analytical and biogeochemical studies of tungsten : a thesis presented in parial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1972) Quin, Bertram Francis
    Section I: Studies were carried out to determine the optimum conditions for the determination of tungsten with a large quartz emission spectrograph. By making use of silver chloride as a carrier, large electrodes and the 2947 A analysis line, soils and rocks containing as low as 10 ppm tungsten could be analysed with reasonable reproducibility. Reliable results were not achieved for plant samples however, and the productivity of the method was very low. In view of these shortcomings, the use of the dithiol colorimetric reagent for the analysis of tungsten was investigated, and a reliable procedure with a detection limit of 0.1 ppm and very high productivity was developed for the analysis of soils, rocks and vegetation. Section II: Pot trials were carried out to investigate the uptake of tungsten by young plants of Nothofagus menziesii (silver beech). It was found that, although most of the tungsten taken up from the soil remained in the roots, the concentrations of this element in the leaves, stems and roots of the plants were all related to the tungsten concentration in the soil. Section III: Biogeochemical and geochemical investigations were carried out in an area of tungsten mineralisation at Barrytown, Westland. The results of preliminary investigations showed that the levels of manganese, tin and load in the soil were associated with the tungsten level, and may therefore be of possible use as pathfinders for tungsten. An investigation was carried out to determine whether the concentration of tungsten in plants could be used to predict the concentrations of this element in the soil. It was found that while shallow-rooting species such as tree-ferns could be successfully used to detect soil anomalies, the relationship between the levels of tungsten in soils and tree species was rather less distinct. Detailed study of trunk and soil samples indicated that this was caused largely by variation in soil properties, particularly pH, which was found to affect the solubility of tungsten. Despite the unsuitability of trees for indicating concentrations of tungsten in the soil, it was found that tree-trunk analysis could be successfully used to locate tungsten-bearing veins, without restriction in the number and types of species used.
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    Analytical, geochemical and biogeochemical studies of tungsten and molybdenum : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1974) Quin, Bertram Francis
    Section I : studies were carried out which significantly improved the sensitivity of the colorimetric method for the determination of tungsten in geochemical and plant samples with dithiol. Proton-induced x-ray fluorescence was also investigated to determine its suitability for the detection of nanogram quantities of tungsten. However although it showed considerable potential, the sensitivity of the method could not be developed sufficiently to compare favourably with colorimetry. A rapid method for the determination of tungsten in ores and concentrates by atomic absorption spectrometry was developed which, through the use of an alkaline sample solution, was free of interference and instability problems. Following a careful study of the parameters involved in the colorimetric method for the determination of molybdenum with dithiol, a simple procedure was developed which could be used for the analysis of a wide range of materials. The use of the nitric/hydrofluoric acid mixture for the digestion of soils and rocks was investigated. It was found that the tendency for calcium and magnesium to precipitate as their fluorides could be avoided by the addition of a small quantity of perchloric acid. Section II : Scheelites from several localities in New Zealand were analysed for their trace element content. They were found to contain very low amounts of impurities. Their Sr/Ba ratio was found to be useful for distinguishing between lodes. Section III : An investigation was carried out to compare the relative efficacy of geochemical and biogeochemical exploration for tungsten under a wide range of geological, vegetational, climatic and topographical conditions. It was found that, under most conditions, both soil and plant sampling could be used equally successfully to pinpoint scheelite bearing veins. In areas of high rainfall and rugged topography, soil sampling did not always reveal the presence of reefs and, in these cases, trunk-sampling of trees could provide additional information. It was found that, for the purposes of biogeochemical prospecting, all tree species could be grouped together. Following this investigation, a more intensive study was carried out at Barrytown to test the suitability of trend surface analysis of biogeochemical data for locating rich pockets of scheelite with veins, with promising results. A brief comparison of geochemical and biogeochemical prospecting for molybdenum was carried out at Canaan, Nelson. It was found that plant sampling gave more information where the low soil pH prevented movement of molybdenum into the upper soil. Section IV : Following the results of the biogeochemical exploration in Section IV, which showed the existence of differences in the distribution of tungsten between tree organs from Barrytown and Canaan, the affect of soil sodium and potassium was investigated and was found to be responsible for these differences. As considerable areas containing scheelite mineralisation support pasture, an investigation was carried out to study the effects of applied tungsten on clover growth. Tungsten, applied as tungstate, was found to slightly decrease growth where fixation was the sole nitrogen source. In the presence of combined nitrogen, however, increases were recorded. A comparison of the elemental composition of native tree species was carried out to investigate the effects of substrate composition. It was found that, whereas vegetation analysis can in general be used to indicate the presence of mineralisation within a rock type, it is not a reliable indicator of the composition of different rock types.