A Comparative Study Between Loss on Ignition and Total Carbon Analysis on Mineralogenic Sediments

Abstract

The present study deals with a comparison between organic and carbonate content determinations based on loss-on-ignition and step-wise total carbon analysis, and a correlation to grain-size. Although loss-on-ignition can generally be regarded as an accurate measure of the organic mater content of a sediment, the amount of fine fraction in the sediments is a limiting factor for an absolute organic determination and influences directly the correction factor. The same holds true for carbonate content determinations based on loss on ignition. In order to provide accurate organic and carbonate content determinations for a sediment, loss-on-ignition data must be corroborated by standard total carbon analysis.