Complete Trace Elemental Characterisation of Granitoid (USGS G-2, GSP-2) Reference Materials by High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

The United States Geological Survey granitic and granodioritic reference materials G‐2 and GSP‐2 were decomposed in high‐pressure bombs using both HF‐HNO₃ and HF‐HNO₃‐HClO₄ in order to evaluate the feasibility of characterising the entire suite of geologically relevant trace elements through direct analysis with a high‐resolution inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer (HR‐ICP‐MS). The digested samples were diluted to the appropriate levels and analysed at low, medium and high resolution depending on the required sensitivity and potential interferences for each element. Memory effects during analysis of the high field strength elements (HFSE) were negligible when analysed using an all‐Teflon, uncooled sample introduction system and combined with adequate wash times with 4% v/v aqua regia + 0.5% v/v HF between samples. The concentration of the remaining lithophile elements was determined with a conventional, cooled, Scott‐type spray chamber using a wash solution of 1% v/v HNO₃. Total procedural blanks contributed between 0.01 to 0.5% to final sample concentrations and blank subtractions were typically unnecessary. Abundances for Li, Hf, Ba, Zr, Ga, Rb, Sr, La, Ce, Th and U were systematically higher, while those for the heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), Cu and Y were systematically lower in this study compared to USGS values for G‐2 and GSP‐2. This is likely to be related to, respectively, higher recoveries from more efficient digestion of refractory phases (i.e., zircon, tourmaline), and better resolution of interferences when using a HR‐ICP‐MS. Sample digestion experiments also showed that perchloric acid digestion in high pressure bombs resulted in superior recoveries and better precision for the bulk of the trace elements analysed. The concentration of the remaining elements overlapped within uncertainty with recommended reference values and with values determined in other studies using isotope‐dilution TIMS, ICP‐MS and XRF. Concentrations for the elements Cd, Sn, Sb, Ta, Bi, Tb, Ni and Mo are also reported for G‐2 and GSP‐2 reference materials. Our study shows therefore that it is feasible to determine thirty‐nine geologically relevant trace elements accurately and directly in granitoid sample digests when using a HR‐ICP‐MS, thereby negating the need for ion exchange or isotopic spiking.