NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF TRACE COPPER, ZINC AND INDIUM IN GEOLOGICAL AND METEORITIC SAMPLES, USING RAPID CHEMICAL SEPARATIONS

For the determination of trace Cu, Zn and In in rock samples, a simple and convenient scheme of RNAA is presented. In this scheme, relatively short-lived nuclides, Cu-64, Zn-69m and In-116m are radiochemically purified immediately after the irradiation of samples. Although the sensitivity for Zn and In is lower in this scheme than that in the RNAA using Zn-65 and In-114m at a higher neutron fluence, the present radiochemical procedures are simpler and were proved to be highly effective for the determination of these elements in most terrestrial igneous rocks and meteorite samples.