Preparation and purification of mineral dusts

This chapter discusses several approaches that can be used to obtain pure phases from a polymineralic assemblage. Because many starting materials may be lithified, the procedures necessary to disaggregate a material, reducing the particle size to the required dimensions are discussed. A general procedure for preparing and purifying a fine-grained mineral sample from apoly mineralic starting material using water sedimentation is outlines. Finally methods for preparing fractions within specific size ranges are discussed. 8 refs., 6 figs.