Perspective. Analytical requirements in international geochemical mapping

Abstract

The history of the development of geochemical exploration has been closely connected with the progress of geoanalysis and instrumentation. International geochemical mapping is the inevitable outcome of the trends in the development of geochemical exploration. However, the analytical requirements in international geochemical mapping are markedly different from those in the earlier stages of its development owing to its international or global nature. Elements determined in existing regional or national geochemical mapping projects have been highly diversified. They should be unified in an international geochemical mapping programme in order to obtain a consistent global geochemical overview. Detection limits of trace and ultratrace elements should be lowered below their crustal abundances in order to make the geochemical maps of these elements much more informative. Unified data quality monitoring procedures and certified reference materials should be used to render the data produced by various mapping projects globally comparable, Multi-method, multi-element analytical schemes which could achieve these requirements should be developed. Geochemical maps produced in this way would be of immense value for monitoring the Earth's environment and for the appraisal of the world's mineral resources.