Methods for analyzing the concentration and speciation of major and trace elements in marine particles

•We review methods used to study marine particle composition and speciation.•Multi-element analytical methods are used in GEOTRACES for particle composition.•New X-ray spectroscopic methods are now being applied to marine particles.•Detailed spectroscopic methods are complementary to high-throughput wet chemistry techniques.

Particles influence trace element and isotope (TEI) cycles through both their elemental composition and fate and their role on the partitioning of dissolved elements through scavenging and dissolution. Because of their complex compositions, a diverse suite of methods is required to analyze marine particles. Here we review some of the varied approaches used to study particle composition, speciation and fate. We focus on high throughput analytical methods that are useful for the international GEOTRACES program, and we also describe new spectroscopic techniques that are now being applied to study the spatial distribution and chemical speciation of TEIs in marine particles.