Comparison of methods to determine degree of pyritization

Degree of pyritization (DOP) is a measure of the ratio pyrite iron/(pyrite iron + reactive iron) that can be related to the depositional environment of a sediment. Several methods of DOP determination have been used but not systematically evaluated. The determination/extraction of reactive (usually acid soluble) iron is critical to the DOP determination, and the method generally used is reaction of the sample for 1 to 2 min with hot 12 N HCl. We present results for timed experiments with 1 N, 6 N, and 12 N HCl on three different samples. We also show that a 24 h room temperature treatment with 1 N HCl is equivalent to the 24 h treatment with Na-dithionite. Experiments with several suites of samples show that all three of these methods leach comparable amounts of iron; therefore, the DOP values are similar. However, the 1 N HCl, 24 h procedure is preferable because laboratory handling is less and easier.