Some recent advances in mathematical geology: apportionment of error in geochemical prospecting data

Abstract

Most publications considering error in geochemical prospecting data attempt to measure analytical precision, while making no effort to measure sampling and sub-sampling error. Using the fact that the variance of the distribution of the total error is the sum of the variances of the various contributory errors, a method for apportioning error to the different causes is described. An example using data obtained from a geochemical prospecting research project illustrates the value of the approach in that the major source of error is found to be in the sampling rather than the analysis.