Size-fractionation of trace elements in dusty snow from open pit bitumen mines and upgraders: collection, handling, preparation and analysis of samples from the Athabasca bituminous sands region of Alberta, Canada

Abstract

A robust sample handling, processing and analytical method was developed for reliable determination of 40 TEs in dusty snow. The “dissolved” TEs in snow from the ABS region were extremely low, and TEs were almost exclusively found in the particulate fraction.