High-Resolution LA-ICP-MS for Accurate Determination of Low Abundances of K, Sc and Other Trace Elements in Geological Samples

Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used to determine K, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni and Zn in geological samples. Because the isotopes of these elements and the internal standard element (Ca) often have interferences from molecular ions when determined using quadrupole or sector-field ICP-MS in low mass resolution mode, ion intensities were measured at a high mass resolution of 4000. We investigated dynamic element fractionation, type and abundance of molecular ions using different geological reference materials. Highly resolved mass spectra were especially important for accurate low-abundance measurements. As a result, maximum "critical" concentration limits for each isotope were obtained, where a mass resolution of 4000 was necessary for reliable LA-ICP-MS analysis. To test the LA-ICP-MS technique, different international reference material glasses and powdered rock reference materials were analysed. Rock powders were fused to glass beads using an Ir-strip heater. Nearly all concentration values for the reference materials agreed with the reference values at the 95% confidence level. To demonstrate routine LA-ICP-MS analysis at a mass resolution of 4000, trace element data for Hawaiian basalts are also presented.     

Compilation of Boron Concentration Data for NBS, USGS and CCRMP Reference Materials

Boron concentration data on 69 different biological, coal and geological reference materials issued by NBS, USGS and CCRMP have been collected from 1951-1986. Data from 135 journal articles and technical reports are included. These data are summarized in consensus (mean) values with uncertainties expressed as pm one standard deviation. Mean values are also calculated as a function of analytical procedure and all raw data are given in the tables.     

地质标准物质粒度测量与表征的现代方法

地质标准物质是地质材料分析的计量标准,在分析质量监控、仪器校准和分析方法评价中发挥着重要作用。地质标准物质大多为粉体材料,而粒度是粉体材料的一项重要特性指标。长期以来,地质标准物质的粒度一直采用过筛法检测;近年来在超细标准物质研制中引入了以激光粒度仪为代表的现代粒度分析方法,并以直观的粒度分布图和简洁的特征粒度来表达分析结果,大大提升了粉体地质标准物质粒度特性的测量及表征水平。在此工作基础上,测量了正在广泛使用的典型地质标准物质的粒度分布,获得了前所未知的粒度分布信息,为这些标准物质的正确使用和取样不确定度评价提供了有益的资料。简单地介绍了检测粉体材料颗粒特性的现代方法,讨论了地质分析与粒度分析在概念上的差异,并就今后地质标准物质乃至地质分析样品的粒度检测与表征方法提出了建议。     

地球化学与环境样品分析标准物质和GeoReM数据库

在地球化学和环境样品分析中,标准物质发挥着越来越重要的作用。尽管通常要求分析者必须提供量值溯源的测量过程的信息;但大多数论著都未给出标准物质的数据。文章强调标准物质在地球化学分析工作中的重要性,同时将地球化学与环境样品分析标准物质数据库GeoReM介绍给中国的地质分析工作者。GeoReM数据库收录了1880个地球化学和环境样品分析标准物质的定值数据、汇编数据、分析数据及其他相关信息,其中包括156个由中国制备的标准物质的数据。GeoReM数据库还给出了所收录标准物质推荐使用的首选值及其不确定度。尽管这些首选值大多都不是按照国际标准化组织的有关规定而确定的,但是它们的置信度高,因而被广泛应用于仪器校准和分析数据的质量监控。文章还指出要将中国研制的、发表在中文期刊上的标准物质也收录到GeoReM数据库中,这对于促进中国的相关研究,增加国际认可度具有重要意义。     

Determination of Uranium in GSJ, CRPG, and CCRMP Reference Samples by Delayed Neutron Assay

Uranium concentrations were determined in 30 reference materials from Japanese, French, and Canadian agencies using delayed neutron assay methods. Many of these materials are new and have few previously reported values for uranium.     

Multi-Element Isotope Dilution Sector Field ICP-MS: A Precise Technique for the Analysis of Geological Materials and its Application to Geological Reference Materials

We present a multi-element technique for the simultaneous determination of twelve trace elements in geological materials by combined isotope dilution (ID) sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) following simple sample digestion. In addition, the concentrations of fourteen other trace elements have been obtained using the ID determined elements as internal standards. This method combines the advantages of ID (high precision and accuracy) with those of SF-ICP-MS (multi-element capability, fast sample processing without element separation) and overcomes the most prevailing drawbacks of ICP-MS (matrix effects and drift in sensitivity). Trace element concentration data for BHVO-1 (n = 5) reproduced to within 1–3% RSD with an accuracy of 1–2% relative to respective literature values for ID values and 2–3% for all other values. We have applied this technique to the analysis of seventeen geological reference materials from the USGS, GSJ and IAG. The sample set also included the new USGS reference glasses BCR-2G, BHVO-2G and BIR-1G, as well as the MPI-DING reference glasses KL2-G and ML3B-G, and NIST SRM 612. Most data agreed within 3–4% with respective literature data. The concentration data for the USGS reference glasses agreed in most cases with respective data of the original rock powder within the combined standard uncertainty of the method (2–3%), except the U concentration of BIR-1G, which showed a three times higher concentration compared to BIR-1.     

Determination of Total Sulfur in Fifteen Geological Materials Using Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP‐OES) and Combustion/Infrared Spectrometry

A method for the determination of total sulfur in geological materials by inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) is described. We show that good results were obtained using this method even for sample types with very low (< 20 μg g^?1) sulfur concentration (e.g., peridotite). Sulfur was determined in fifteen geological reference materials with different sulfur contents. For reference materials with certified sulfur contents, the ICP‐OES method gave results in excellent agreement with certified values, and uncertainties better than 4% RSD. ICP‐OES results for sulfur in other reference materials yielded RSDs better than 10%, where S concentrations were > 100 μg g^?1 (except for diabase W‐2a, 16% RSD). Reference materials with lower sulfur contents (< 40 μg g^?1) showed much higher RSDs (17–18%). Except for RMs with certified values for sulfur, most data obtained by the combustion infrared detection method generally showed higher concentrations than those measured by ICP‐OES and a better RSD (≤ 8% for all materials except DTS‐2b).     

地质调查通用标准物质及标准方法信息系统

根据各地质实验室的特点和质量管理规范需求，结合实验室认可及检测实验室能力的需要，建立了地质调查通用标准物质和标准方法信息系统。该系统不仅能提供地质调查通用标准物质、标准方法的基本信息，还增加了与能力分析相关的检测参数信息，并实现了标准信息网上查询和维护管理。该系统适用于地质调查实验室的质量管理系统。     

珠江三角洲沉积物标准物质研制

为满足近海地球化学调查及资源勘探的需要,研制了3个珠江三角洲沉积物标准物质.样品经干燥、球磨至200目,采用XRF法进行均匀性检验,结果显示方差检验的F实测值均小于列表临界值,证明样品具有较好的均匀性.在2年时间内选取有代表性的元素进行了4次稳定性测试,结果表明样品稳定性良好.共12家实验室参加了合作定值,采用了16种准确可靠的分析方法,最终定值元素70项.该标准物质的研制将为河口三角洲地区地质调查提供可靠的质量保证.     

Selenium Concentrations in Twenty-Six Geological Reference Materials: New Determinations and Proposed Values

The interest in selenium concentrations in whole rocks is growing, in part because it is a useful tool for base and precious metal exploration. Selenium is often neglected in whole rock geochemistry because of the inability of most laboratories to make reliable determinations of this element. A consequence of these difficulties is a paucity of assigned or certified values for Se in international geological reference materials, so that the "best practice" proposed by Kane and Potts (2007) to obtain robust values for such reference materials cannot be followed. In order to address this problem, we have determined Se by pre-concentration on thiol-cotton fibre followed by INAA (Se/TCF-INAA technique) in twenty-six international geological reference materials, and one quality control material (KPT-1). These values were used, in conjunction with a set of published values, to estimate Se concentrations for these twenty-seven reference samples. Robust statistics were developed for seven of the RMs, with standard deviations equal to or less than precisions calculated using the Horwitz function and so that consensus values could be proposed. For three of the RMs, the presence of outliers gave less robust results, and suggested values are proposed. For seventeen of the RMs, only information values are provided, because either insufficient determinations were available or because large standard deviations of the data were derived.     

高温熔融研制岩石标准玻璃方法初步研究:以玄武岩为例

探索了利用高温炉合成玄武岩玻璃制作原位微区主微量元素含量分析的标准物质的实验条件.选取玄武岩标准物质GBW07105(GSR-3)进行高温熔融、淬火实验研究,获得玄武岩玻璃,为合成其他地质样品微区分析标准参考物质的研制提供了参考方法.用激光剥蚀-四极杆等离子体质谱(LA-Q-ICPMS)对样品微区46个主元素和微量元素...     

Simultaneous Determination of Total Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen and Sulfur in Twenty-seven Geological Reference Materials by Elemental Analyser

The contents of total carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur in twenty-seven geological reference materials, issued by five producer organisations (USGS, CCRMP, ANRT, NIST and GSJ) were determined using an automated simultaneous elemental analyser following combustion. In order to complete gasification of C and N in some geological materials, the combustion temperature needed to be greater than 1150 °C. The calibrator prepared from known amounts of reagent material was not adopted for more than 1.2% m/m of H. Unrealistically high values in certain materials supposed to contain less than 1000 μg g⁻¹ S may be due mainly to memory effects. The limit of detection was 50 μg g⁻¹ for C and N, 500 μg g⁻¹ for H and 1000 μg g⁻¹ for S. Although the blank value of C and N was always stable and less than one third of the detection limit, it had a slightly higher value for N and S. By repeating long-term analysis, high reproducibility for each of the four elements was verified. The method has been applied satisfactorily to a variety of geological reference materials, and recommended values for C, H and N for most of the reference materials studied have been tabulated.     

Iron Isotopic Compositions of Geological Reference Materials and Chondrites

High‐precision iron isotopic compositions for Fe‐bearing geological reference materials and chondrites with a wide range of matrices (e.g., silicates, oxides, organic‐bearing materials) are reported. This comprehensive data set should serve as a reference for iron isotopic studies across a range of geological and biological disciplines for both quality assurance and inter‐laboratory calibration. Where comparison is available, the iron isotopic compositions of most geological reference materials measured in this study were in agreement with previously published data within quoted uncertainties. Recommendations for the reporting of future iron isotopic data and associated uncertainties are also presented. Long‐term repeat analyses of all samples indicate that highly reproducible iron isotopic measurements are now obtainable (± 0.03‰ and ± 0.05‰ for δ⁵⁶Fe and δ⁵⁷Fe, respectively).     

地质标准物质不确定度评估方法初探

在分析地质标准物质标准值不确定度来源的基础上,提出了在多个实验室协作研制地质标准物质时,协作单位除提供重现性检测数据外,还应分别提供各项目检测数据的合成不确定度。分析方法或实验室之间的平均值的合成不确定度按不等精度方法处理。标准物质标准值的不确定度由分析方法、检测实验室、样品均匀性和样品稳定性的不确定度合成后乘以扩展不确定度置信水平下的包含因子而得。     

Determination of Multiple Trace Element Compositions in Thin (> 30 μm) Layers of NIST SRM 614 and 616 Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)

To understand and/or avoid small-scale chemical heterogeneities within geological materials prepared as normal thin sections, in situ multiple trace element determination coupled with the simultaneous microscopic observation of the sample during analysis is preferable. We have examined fifty trace elements in thin (< 30 μm) layers of the NIST SRM 614 and 616 glass reference materials by LA-ICP-MS using different pit diameters and internal standard elements (Ca and Si). Compositional heterogeneities of Tl, Bi, As and Cd were found in NIST SRM 614 and 616 at the spatial resolution of ca. 10 0 μm. Except for these elements, the RSDs of six determinations for most elements were better than 10% in NIST SRM 614 when ablation diameters were < 50 μm. The measured concentrations for most elements in NIST SRM 614 and 616 agree with previous values in the literature at the 95% confidence level with the exception of W and Bi. New LA-ICP-MS data for K, As and Cd are also reported. The results support the view that the latest LA-ICP-MS is a powerful and flexible analytical technique for the determination of multiple ultra-trace element compositions in geological materials prepared as normal thin sections of the type that has been used for polarising optical microscopic observations since the end of the 19th century.     

Chemical Characterisation of the USGS Reference Glasses GSA-1G, GSC-1G, GSD-1G, GSE-1G, BCR-2G, BHVO-2G and BIR-1G Using EPMA, ID-TIMS, ID-ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS

The USGS reference glasses GSA-1G, GSC-1G, GSD-1G, GSE-1G, BCR-2G, BHVO-2G and BIR-1G were investigated by different analytical techniques. All these materials have a geological (basaltic) matrix and are therefore useful in igneous geochemistry as matrix-matched reference materials for microanalytical techniques. The new GS glasses have trace elements in groups at concentration levels of about < 0.01, 5, 50 and 500 μg g^-1. Their major element compositions have been determined by EPMA, and trace elements have been analysed by LA-ICP-MS and two isotope dilution techniques using TIMS and ICP-MS. EPMA and LA-ICP-MS analyses indicated that the USGS reference glasses are homogeneous at the μm to mm scale with respect to major (variations < 1-2%) and most trace elements (variations 1-4%). Trace element data obtained from the different analytical techniques agreed within an uncertainty of 1-5%, indicating that between method results are comparable. Therefore, the preliminary working values for the four USGS GS glasses calculated from these data have a low level of uncertainty.     

地质标准物质的粒度测量与表征实践

样品粒度是粉体地质标准物质的一项重要特性指标。长期以来地质标准物质的粒度一直是采用筛分法或沉降法检测,最终大多以加工样品通过一定筛目(一般为-200目)的比例来表达;近年来超细标准物质研制引入了以激光粒度仪为代表的粒度检测与分析的现代方法,并可以直观的粒度分布图和简洁明晰的特征粒径等多种方法来表达粒度分布特征,大大提升了粉体地质标准物质粒度分布特性的测量及表征水平。文章在前期采用激光粒度仪测量超细标准物质粒度分布特征工作的基础上,用此法测量了当今广泛使用的典型地质标准物质的粒度分布,为这些标准物质的正确使用和取样不确定度评价提供了重要依据;同时就今后地质标准物质乃至地质分析样品的粒度检测与表征提出建议。     

Determination of Uranium in Thirty-six Geological Reference Samples by Fluorimetry and Extractive Spectrophotometry

The uranium contents of 36 geological reference samples have been determined by fluorimetry after ion-exchange separation, and spectrophotometry using Arsenazo III after solvent extraction with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide. The agreement between present results and published data is generally good. The methods of fluorimetry and spectrophotometry proved very convenient in the determination of uranium in geological materials.     

Reference Materials for Geochemical Studies: New Analytical Data by ICP-MS and Critical Discussion of Reference Values

Abundances of twenty four trace elements, including Y and fourteen rare earth elements (REE), are reported for eighty six geological reference materials and four proficiency testing samples. Analytical data were obtained by ICP-MS using solution nebulisation after mixed acid digestion (HF-HClO₄) under pressure. Analysed samples cover a wide range of element concentrations and mineralogical compositions, including samples for which there are few previously published data. Precision for elemental determinations in nearly 90% of the samples analysed is better than 5%. Accuracy, estimated by comparison with data from compilations is better than 6% for well characterized reference materials. Results obtained for samples that are low in trace elements are often significantly lower than compiled reference values. A critical discussion of the compiled data sets, especially for Y and the REEs, indicates that some reference values seem to be erroneous.