Ternary plot

Abstract: The concept of fabric shape provides a powerful means of visualizing and analyzing data on sedimentary fabric. The shape of a fabric is defined in terms of the ratios between eigenvalues S1 S2, and S3, derived using the orientation tensor method. A continuum of all possible orthorhombic fabric shapes can be clearly represented on equilateral ternary diagrams originally developed for the presentation of particle-shape data. Two indices are of particular value in scaling these diagrams: fabric isotropy (I = S3/S1)and fabric elongation (E = 1-(S2/S1)). Together, these indices uniquely define the shape of any orthorhombic fabric, and provide a rational and quantitative basis for reconstructing depositional and de ormational processes. Equilateral ternary diagrams provide a more versatile and powerful basis for analyzing fabric data than other eigenvalue diagrams now in use. Use of the diagrams in reconstructing processes of sediment transport and deposition is illustrated using fabric data from subglacial tills and a variety of slope deposits.

Abstract: This paper describes the development and application of laser ablation ICP-MS methodologies for determining the trace element association patterns ‘fingerprint’ of cannabis crops and the potential tracing of these crops to specific geological environments. It also details the specific identification of single- and multi-sourced material collected during police drug raids. Cannabis samples are ground to a fine powder under liquid nitrogen and the resulting material pressed, under 20 t pressure, into cardboard mounts. An Nd:YAG laser is used to ablate this pressed powder and high sensitivity ICP-MS is used to determine the elemental association patterns ‘fingerprint’ derived from the analysis of the material. These associations of elements, rather than the traditional element concentrations, form the basis of the approach for the determination of provenance of cannabis crops and samples recovered in individual police drug raids. Variations in analyte signal between different ablation events, because of variations in coupling and transport efficiency, number of shots and morphology and colour of the substrate, are obviated by the use of ternary ratio per cent. discriminant diagrams. Ternary ratio per cent. plots represent the direct comparison of the relationship between three components in a system. The use of these plots effectively eliminates any variability in absolute values by concentrating on inter-comparison of components rather than absolute values. Positioning a ratio per cent. data point anywhere within the ternary plot indicates the relative percentile inter-association of the three components defined by the diagram. Using this method all ternary association plots of elements from the same sample will plot in the same position on the diagram, whereas those from different samples will plot elsewhere. Reproducibility on a day to day basis is confirmed by analysis of in-house standard cannabis materials with each sample batch.

Abstract: An improved method for global petrologic mapping of the moon is presented, which uses a color-coded ternary diagram whose apexes are assigned the average Fe and Th/Ti ratio (normalized to chondrites) compositions of KREEP/Mg-suite rocks, mare basalts, and ferroan anorthosites. The composition of each pixel within these Apollo orbital gamma ray data bases is used to determine its position within the ternary diagram. The color corresponding to this ternary position is then placed on a classification map at that pixel's position within the orbital data bases. The resultant classification map shows spatial transitions among petrologic units, allows direct determination of the relative proportions of each end-member composition in a pixel, and provides more geologic information than can be obtained by using only the elemental data. The map units correspond remarkably well to previously delineated geologic provinces.