Efficient rock digest preparation for geochemists - A practical handbook

Geological sample preparation remains one of the most critical and challenging steps in achieving accurate and reproducible elemental analysis. In this book, we will explore how recent advances in microwave-assisted digestion and green chemistry principles are reshaping sample preparation workflows in geochemistry labs. The practical handbook features a scientific overview of the digestion challenges associated with silicate-rich, refractory, and HFSE-bearing rocks, along with method development strategies. With the cooperation of Professor Balz Kamber of Queensland University of Technology, we introduce practical insights and comparative data on microwave digestion approaches, with a focus on SRC technology. Key topics include reproducibility, blank control, reagent reduction, and compatibility with HF mixtures. Additionally, we showcase a newly proposed framework for categorizing geological matrices to simplify digestion protocols and promote method consistency across research groups