BULK ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE LAMOTTE SANDSTONE USING NON-DESTRUCTIVE X-RAY FLUORESENCE

Geologic carbon sequestration is currently being widely studied as a means of reducing anthropogenic carbon emissions. However, southwest Missouri does not have any conventional locations for carbon sequestration. Therefore the feasibility of a shallow, gas-phase injection is being investigated. The proposed target unit for injection in southwest Missouri is the basal sedimentary unit, the Cambrian-age Lamotte Sandstone. As part of the Missouri Shallow Carbon Demonstration Project, the bulk elemental composition of the proposed injection unit was evaluated using non-destructive X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). A library of standards to calibrate the XRF instrument was created and a cluster analysis was used to determine groups based on major element composition. The data were derived from five sandstone cores: four historical cores from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ McCracken Core Library and from one core onsite at the Shallow Carbon Demonstration Project. These data will be incorporated into the geochemical models of the proposed injection site and will help determine the feasibility of shallow carbon sequestration in southwest Missouri. This material is based upon work sponsored by the Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory under Award Number DE-NT0006642 to City Utilities of Springfield, MO.