Major, minor, and trace element composition of black shales of the Virginia Formation, Minnesota

Sixty samples of Paleoproterozoic Virginia Formation of the Animikie Group black shales were collected from two public drill cores (VHD-00-1; LWD-99-2) housed at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Drill Core Library in Hibbing, MN. The black shale samples were ground to a powder and subjected to several analyses. Trace elements were determined using multi-acid digestion and analysis via ICP-OES and ICP-MS following standard USGS analytical methods. Major elements were determined by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF). Total carbon, organic carbon, inorganic carbon, and total sulfur content were determined by combustion and infrared detection. Analyses were completed by the Minerals Analytical Chemistry contract lab: AGAT Labs. Forty-nine major, minor, and trace elements and fourteen major element oxides are reported.