Geochemistry Guide 2026

Biogeochemistry

Mobile metal ion – SGS MMI soil geochemistry

SGS is the owner and sole provider of SGS MMI Technology. We have over 20 years of experience with this technology, and we are the market leaders in providing a weak extraction of the mobile form of the ions residing in near surface soils. SGS MMI is a world-renowned exploration tool repeatedly proven to find buried mineral deposits. SGS MMI Technology is an innovative analytical process that uses a unique analysis of metals in soils and weathered materials. Target elements are extracted using weak solutions of organic and inorganic compounds rather than conventional aggressive acid-based digests. SGS MMI solutions contain strong ligands, which detach and hold the metal ions that were loosely bound to soil particles by weak atomic forces. The extraction does not dissolve the bound forms of metal ions. Thus, metal ions in MMI solutions are the chemically active or ‘mobile’ component of the sample. Because these mobile, loosely bound complexes are in very low concentrations, elemental determinations are made by conventional or cell-based ICP-MS. There are many benefits to using SGS MMI Technology for soil geochemistry, including:

SGS has considerable experience in the preparation and analysis of a wide range of vegetation samples. Such samples may be dried and macerated or ashed prior to acid digestion and analysis by ICP-OES (GE_ICP23D50) and ICP-MS (GE_IMS23D50).

GE_ICP23D50 AI

12 - 150,000 ppm 10 - 10,000 ppm 1 - 10,000 ppm

K

7 - 250,000 ppm 0.2 - 50,000 ppm 9 - 150,000 ppm 2 - 10,000 ppm 12 - 150,000 ppm 1 - 10,000 ppm 18 - 250,000 ppm

S

42 - 410,000 ppm 0.5 - 10,000 ppm 1 - 150,000 ppm 20 - 10,000 ppm

B

Li

Sr

Ba

Mg Mn

Ti

Ca 30 - 150,000 ppm

V

Cr

10 - 10,000 ppm 0.5 - 10,000 ppm 7 - 150,000 ppm

Na

Zn 1 - 10,000 ppm

Cu Fe

Ni

Zr

0.05 - 10,000 ppm

P

GE_IMS23D50 Ag

• Few false anomalies • Focused anomalies • Minimal nugget effects

0.01 - 10 ppm

Ho

0.002 - 500 ppm 0.005 - 500 ppm 0.002 - 500 ppm 0.01 - 10,000 ppm 0.002 - 10,000 ppm

Se 5 - 1,000 ppm

As 10 - 10,000 ppm

In

Sm 0.005 - 1,000 ppm

Au

0.005 - 5 ppm

Ir

Sn Ta Tb Te Th

0.4 - 1,000 ppm 0.2 - 10,000 ppm 0.002 - 10,000 ppm

Bi

0.005 - 10,000 ppm 0.03 - 10,000 ppm 0.01 - 1,000 ppm 0.01 - 10,000 ppm 0.005 - 1,000 ppm

La Lu

Cd Ce Co Cs

MMI sample collection Sample collection is the critical part of a soil geochemistry program. The SGS MMI Technology has specific sampling protocols based on years of experience and research. In the absence of an orientation survey, samples must be taken at a constant depth (10-25 cm) below the organic-inorganic soil interface. There is no sample preparation or drying. The analysis is performed on a 50g sample and the extracted solution is analyzed via ICP-MS. For detailed instructions, please contact your SGS customer service agent.

Mo 0.05 - 10,000 ppm Nd 0.02 - 10,000 ppm

0.1 - 1,00 ppm

0.002 - 10,000 ppm 0.002 - 1,000 ppm

Pb Pd

0.5 - 10,000 ppm 0.01 - 500 ppm 0.005 - 1,000 ppm 0.005 - 350 ppm 0.2 - 10,000 ppm 0.001 - 500 ppm 0.04 - 10,000 ppm

TI

Dy 0.005 - 1,000 ppm

Tm 0.002 - 1,000 ppm U 0.001 - 10,000 ppm W 0.01 - 10,000 ppm Y 0.01 - 10,000 ppm Yb 0.002 - 100 ppm

Er

0.005 - 1,000 ppm

Pr Pt

Eu 0.002 - 1,000 ppm Ga 1 - 10,000 ppm

Rb Rh Sb Sc

Gd

0.01 - 1,000 ppm

Hf

0.5 - 500 ppm

GE_MMIM MOBILE METAL ION STANDARD PACKAGE / ICP-MS Ag ≥ 0.5 ppb Gd ≥ 0.5 ppb

Hg 0.3 - 10,000 ppm Vegetation sample preparation: Dry and macerate sample (G_DRY_KG, VEG10_WT)) or ash at 475 o C (G_PRP, PRP_ASH). 0.02 - 10,000 ppm

Sb Sc

≥ 0.5 ppb

AI

≥ 1 ppm ≥ 10 ppb ≥ 0.1 ppb ≥ 10 ppb ≥ 0.5 ppb ≥ 2 ppm

Hg

≥ 1 ppb

≥ 1 ppb

As Au Ba

In

≥ 0.1 ppb ≥ 0.5 ppm

Sm ≥ 1 ppb

K

Sn Sr Ta Tb Te Th Ti TI U W

≥ 1 ppb ≥ 10 ppb ≥ 1 ppb ≥ 0.1 ppb ≥ 10 ppb ≥ 0.5 ppb ≥ 10 ppb ≥ 0.1 ppb ≥ 0.5 ppb ≥ 0.5 ppb

La

≥ 1 ppb ≥ 1 ppb

Bi

Li

Ca Cd Ce Co Cr Cs Cu Dy

Mg Mn Mo Nb Nd

≥ 0.5 ppm ≥ 100 ppb

≥ 1 ppb ≥ 2 ppb ≥ 1 ppb

≥ 2 ppb

≥ 0.5 ppb

≥ 100 ppb ≥ 0.2 ppb ≥ 10 ppb ≥ 0.5 ppb ≥ 0.2 ppb ≥ 0.2 ppb ≥ 1 ppm ≥ 0.5 ppb

≥ 1 ppb ≥ 5 ppb

Ni

P

≥ 0.1 ppm

Pb Pd

≥ 5 ppb ≥ 1 ppb

Y

≥ 1 ppb

Er

Yb Zn

≥ 0.2 ppb ≥ 10 ppb

Eu Fe

Pr Pt

≥ 0.5 ppb ≥ 0.1 ppb

Zr

≥ 2 ppb

Ga ≥ 1 ppb Lower detection limit for Cr ( ≥ 1ppb) and addition of V ( ≥ 1ppb) are available under scheme code GE_MMIME. Additional elements such as S, B, Br, I, and Pb isotopes can also be measured upon request. Rb

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