Characterization of individual insoluble particles in ice core

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to identify individual particles contained in an ice core and trace their sources by the combined use of quantitative energy-dispersive electron probe Xray microanalysis (ED-EPMA), which is also known as low-Z particle EPMA, and attenuated total reflectance FTIR (ATR-FTIR) imaging. It is capable of characterizing different minerals and their isomorphs even on single particle basis. Totally 606 individual insoluble particles from the ice core collected in the East Rongbuk from Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) were characterized. The particles in four samples, sample A-D, collected from different depths were classified into 17 particle types based on their morphology, elemental concentrations, and molecular species and/or functional groups of individual particles available from the two analytical techniques.