A study of internal standardization in the analysis of fine gold with the glow-discharge source

Methods of internal standardization in the glow-discharge spectrometric analysis of gold are discussed. The method recommended by Jäger, based on the amount of material sputtered from the sample, gives less precise results for the gold content than when results are calculated by a simple difference method. The Jäger method is also shown to give a false impression of sensitivity where this does not exist at high concentrations. Results obtained by difference with a direct-reading spectrometer and glowdischarge source compare well with fire-assay results.