Ash collection, storage and preparation 

Ash collection

 Collect ash in clean plastic trays where possible. Where no trays are available, try to collect from a
relatively flat, clean, dry, hard surface such as uncovered steps or a flat roof. Avoid locations where
other surface dust or salts are likely to have accumulated. Be aware of the possibility of contamination
from surfaces sampled from (for example, copper, chromium and arsenic from tanalised fence posts or
zinc from galvanised roofing materials). Always record the surface each sample is collected from.

 See USGS AVO web site (http://avo.alaska.edu/ashfall.php) or IVHHN website (www.ivhhn.org) for
comprehensive advice on ash collection methods.

 If you are able to collect a measured area sample, record the thickness of the ashfall, the dimensions
of the area the sample is collected from and the weight of the sample.

 If the ash deposit appears heterogeneous (with respect to characteristics such as grain size, colour
etc), and if it is logistically possible, we highly recommend collecting multiple samples from a single site,
then compositing and homogenizing subsamples to reduce variability. Collection of comparable
subsamples can be accomplished using a plastic container (e.g., Tupperware2 ) of known dimensions as
a template (see Hoefen et al. 2009, http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1038/) to ensure each subsample is
collected over the same size area.

 Try to collect ash in a pristine condition (dry, not rained on), if possible. Always record the state of the
sample, particularly whether or not it has been wetted prior to collection.

 For IVHHN recommendations on information to be recorded, see:

(SOURCE: https://www.ivhhn.org/images/pdf/volcanic_ash_leachate_protocols.pdf)

BULK ASH SAMPLE COLLECTION

SOURCE : (https://avo.alaska.edu/ashfall.php)

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdfplus/10.2105/AJPH.76.Suppl.45

METHODS