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T. T. Chao

Publications and source records attributed to T. T. Chao.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1977

Chemical dissolution of sulfide minerals

Chemical dissolution treatments involving the use of aqua regia, 4 N HNO 3 , H 2 O 2 -ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, KClO 3 +HCl, and KClO 3 +HCl followed by 4 N HNO 3 were applied to specimens of nine common sulfide minerals (galena, chalcopyrite, cinnabar, molybdenite, orpiment, pyrite, stibnite, sphalerite, and tetrahedrite) mixed individually with a clay loam soil. The resultant decrease in the total sulfur content of the mixture, as determined by using the Leco induction furnace, was used to evaluate the effectiveness of each chemical treatment. A combination of KClO 3 +HCl followed by 4 N HNO 3 boiling gently for 20 min has been shown to be very effective in dissolving all the sulfide minerals. This treatment is recommended to dissolve metals residing in sulfide minerals admixed with secondary weathering products, as one step in a fractionation scheme whereby metals in soluble and adsorbed forms, and those associated with organic materials and secondary oxides, are first removed by other chemical extractants.

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey↗
USGS1976

Determination of trace amounts of tin in geological materials by atomic absorption spectrometry

An atomic absorption method is described for the determination of traces of tin in rocks, soils, and stream sediments. A dried mixture of the sample and ammonium iodide is heated to volatilize tin tetraiodide -which is then dissolved in 5 % hydrochloric acid, extracted into TOPO-MIBK, and aspirated into a nitrous oxide-acetylene flame. The limit of determination is 2 p.p.m. tin and the relative standard deviation ranges from 2 to 14 %. Up to 20 % iron and 1000 p.p.m. Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Hg, Mo, V, or W in the sample do not interfere. As many as 50 samples can be easily analyzed per man-day.

Analytica Chimica Acta↗
USGS1974

The scavenging of silver by manganese and iron oxides in stream sediments collected from two drainage areas of Colorado

Stream sediments of two well-weathered and aerated drainage areas of Colorado containing anomalous amounts of silver were allowed to react by shaking with nitric acid of different concentrations (1–10M). Silver, manganese, and iron simultaneously dissolved were determined by atomic absorption. The relationship between silver dissolution and the dissolution of manganese and/or iron was evaluated by linear and multiple regression analyses. The highly significant correlation coefficient ( r = 0.913) between silver and manganese dissolution suggests that manganese oxides are the major control on the scavenging of silver in these stream sediments, whereas iron oxides only play a secondary role in this regard.

Colorado↗
USGS1973

The sorption of silver by poorly crystallized manganese oxides

The sorption of silver by poorly crystallized manganese oxides was studied using synthesized samples of three members of the manganous manganite (birnessite) group, of different chemical composition and crystallinity, and a poorly organized γ-MnO 2 . All four oxides sorbed significant quantities of silver. The manganous manganites showed the greatest sorption (up to 0.5 moles silver/mole MnO x at pH 7) while the γ-MnO 2 showed the least (0.3 moles silver/ mole MnO x at pH 7). Sorption of silver was adequately described by the Langmuir equation over a considerable concentration range. The relationship failed at low pH values and high equilibrium silver concentrations. The sorption capacity showed a direct relationship with pH. However, the rate of increase of sorption capacity decreased at the higher pH values. Silver sorption maxima. were not directly related to surface area but appeared to vary with the amount of occluded sodium and potassium present in the manganese oxide. The important processes involved in the uptake of silver by the four poorly crystallized manganese oxides ara considered to be surface exchange for manganese, potassium and sodium as well as exchange for structural manganese, potassium and sodium.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta↗
USGS1973

Atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of microgram levels of Co, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn in soil and sediment extracts containing large amounts of Mn and Fe

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of seven metal ions in the hydroxylamine extract of soils and sediments. Mn, Fe, and Zn are directly determined in the aqueous extract upon dilution. Co, Ni, Cu, and Pb in a separate aliquot of the extract are chelated with APDC (ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) and extracted into MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) before determination. Data are presented to show the quantitative recovery of microgram levels of Co, Ni, Cu, and Pb by APDC-MIBK chelation-extraction from synthetic solutions containing as much as 2,000 ug/ml (micrograms per milliliter) Mn or 50 ug/ml Fe. Recovery of known amounts of the metal ions from sample solutions is equally satisfactory. Reproducible results are obtained by replicate analyses of two sediment samples for the seven metals.

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey↗
USGS1971

Gold content of natural waters in Colorado

Neutron activation analysis of 67 samples of water draining from gold-barren and gold-enriched sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks of the Colorado Front Range reveals a relatively small range in total gold content (nondetectable to 150 nanograms per liter). "Solute" gold concentrations were generally higher than particulate gold concentrations and both were unrelated to rock or water types. The data suggest the occurrence of a spring flush out of "solute" gold in groundwater discharge during the snow-melt recharge period but indicate that direct hydrogeochemical prospecting for gold is unpromising.

Colorado↗
USGS1971

Determination of silver in soils, sediments, and rocks by organic-chelate extraction and atomic absorption spectrophotometry

A useful method for the determination of silver in soil, sediment, and rock samples in geochemical exploration has been developed. The sample is digested with concentrated nitric acid, and the silver extracted with triisooctyl thiophosphate (TOTP) in methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) after dilution of the acid digest to approximately 6 M . The extraction of silver into the organic extractant is quantitative and not affected by the nitric acid concentration from 4 M to 8 M , or by different volumes of TOTP-MIBK. The extracted silver is stable and remains in the organic phase up to several days. The silver concentration is determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Analytica Chimica Acta↗
USGS1969

Determination of gold in waters in the nanogram range by anion exchange and atomic absorption spectrophotometry

A method has been developed whereby nanogram amounts of gold in waters can be accurately determined. The development of the method involves determination of optimum conditions for the complete recovery of gold from water using an anion exchange resin column, quantitative elution of gold from the resin, and final measurement of gold by atomic absorption spectrophotometry following MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone) extraction of gold from a nitric acid solution.

Economic Geology↗