Mineral and trace element composition of the Lokpanta oil shales in the Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria

Abstract The concentrations of minerals and trace elements in the Lokpanta oil shale from the Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria have been determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), respectively. X-ray diffraction data were evaluated using the SIROQUANT™ interactive data processing system based on Rietveld interpretation methods. A new method of trace element determination in oil shale, involving LA-ICP-MS analysis of glass beads prepared by fusing oil shale ash on an iridium strip heater was used, and the accuracy of the method was assessed by including a standard shale reference material (SGR-1b) in the analysis program. The…