One of the first steps in identifying the type of fuel contamination would be to

• A. Analyze it with a gas chromatograph
• B. Conduct a magnetometer survey
• C. Drill core samples only
• D. Measure pH

Answer: (A)

To identify the type of fuel contamination, you need direct chemical information about what’s in the sample. A gas chromatograph separates the components of a hydrocarbon mixture and can reveal the specific compounds present in the contaminant. By analyzing the retention times, and often using a mass spectrometer in tandem (GC-MS), you get a detailed fingerprint of the fuel, allowing you to distinguish between gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other fuels or additives. This chemical identification is more informative than other methods: a magnetometer survey is a geophysical tool that detects subsurface features but doesn’t tell you which contaminant is there; drilling core samples helps obtain material but doesn’t by itself identify the composition; and pH measurements don’t reliably indicate the hydrocarbon type since fuels aren’t defined by acidity. So, using a gas chromatograph directly targets the contaminant’s composition and is the best first step.