Replication of individual snow crystals for their subsequent chemical analysis using micro-PIXE

Kasahara, Mikio*; Ma, C.-J.*; Okumura, Motonori*; Kojima, Takuji; Hakoda, Teruyuki; Sakai, Takuro; Arakawa, Kazuo

A snow crystal scavenges earozol particles and trasfer various elements in atomosphere through heterogenious nucleation. The snow has many complicated crystal shapes which results in difficulty in comparison of its environmental purification function directly with that of raindrops. The replica of individual snow crystal grain was prepared by their immobilization on the collodion film. The replica samples were analized by micro-PIXE at JAERI and PIXE st Kyoto university. The following results are obtained: (1) Size(circumscribed diameter) of individual snow crystal are in the range of 0.12-2.5mm, (2)snow crystal grows from hexagnal plate to dendritic sectored plate, (3) major elements captured by a snow crystal are Si,S,K,Ca,Fe,S, (4)there is relation between snow crystal size and captured-element masses. The result leads us to presume the chemical inner-structure and the elemental mixing state in/on single snow crystal.