We apply our Thermo Finnigan Elemental Analyser to the determination of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur in (organic) sediments.
C/N and C/S ratios which are used to establish organic matter provenance, diagenesis and or maturity can be determined with a precision of better than 5% on ~10 mg of material. The preparation involves besides the grinding and homogenization of the sample material also the removal of inorganic carbonate in an HCl atmosphere.