A fast method for apatite selective leaching from granitic rocks followed through rare earth elements and phosphorus determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

Rare earth elements (REE) and phosphorus (P) in apatite were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) after partial dissolution of the granitic rocks and pure apatite. The dissolution was performed with nitric acid in an open system and the matrix elements were separated by a cation exchange procedure. Samples of pure apatite from granitic rocks were dissolved with, 0.14 mol L(-1) nitric acid. The results showed that the release of REE is due to apatite leaching because it could be assessed by comparing the chondrite-normalised pattern corresponding to the rocks and the pure apatite. Similar results were found for absolute REE abundance from the partial dissolution of the rocks and pure apatite. This simple and rapid method can be applied for the determination of REE in apatite as an indicator for mineral exploration, although its use in petrology could be possible.