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。     

地球化学标准物质标准不确定度估算探讨

在用高精度分析方法经检验证明样品均匀知识性和稳定性良好的条件下,可以以定值测试的不确定度表示标准物质标准值的不确定度。在较全面分析了地球化学标准物质定值测试的误差后,提出以测试结果平均值的标准偏差算得A类不确定度、以定值方法间的偏倚估计B类不确定度,以两者的合成值作为地理化学标准物质不确定度的估计值,并用其试算了部分已有地球化学标准物质有代表性元素的不确定度,结果表明提出的不确定度估算方法是可信的。     

Quantifying Isotopic Heterogeneity of Candidate Reference Materials at the Picogram Sampling Scale

We propose a method for quantifying the in situ heterogeneity of solid materials at the picogram test portion scale, illustrating its use by investigating the oxygen isotope ratio (¹⁸O^?/¹⁶O^?) of four quartz samples. Using secondary ion mass spectrometry, we could estimate the intrinsic heterogeneity using a large number (~ 100) of closely spaced duplicated measurements. An analysis of variance was then applied to these large data sets to extract the measurement repeatability (typically 0.10–0.15‰, 1s) from the total variability, thereby revealing a variability ranging from 0.18‰ to 2.3‰, which can be attributed to the genuine isotope ratio heterogeneities. A small proportion of outlying values were either rejected manually after inspection, or were accommodated using robust statistics. We also evaluated two distinct approaches for estimating and correcting instrumental drift; the use of a sub‐area of the test material (if shown to have sufficiently low heterogeneity) is judged to be preferable to using a piece of unrelated silicate glass that we believe to be homogeneous. We also compared three approaches for estimating measurement repeatability, from which we show that the ‘duplicate method’ applied to the reference material is preferable to using other methods based either on the drift monitoring material or on assessing residuals of the drift monitoring material after drift correction. Finally, here we propose a strategy for predicting the number of measurements on individual fragments of a material that would be required to achieve a specified target uncertainty.     

铜镍硫化物铼-锇标准物质定值的溯源性讨论及总不确定度评估

对按国家一级标准物质技术规范研制的铜镍硫化物Re-Os标准物质定值的溯源性及其总不确定度进行讨论与评估。铜镍硫化物标准物质样品采用Carius管溶解,高精度的TRITON同位素质谱仪、MAT-262热电离质谱仪、四极杆等离子体质谱仪、多接收器等离子体质谱仪和高分辨四极杆等离子体质谱仪测量Re、Os含量和Os同位素比值,其中Re-Os含量可以溯源至基准物质,而187Os/188Os同位素比值可以溯源至国际纯粹与应用化学联合会(IUPAC)。在定值数据误差计算时,采用国际通用的ISOPLOT软件利用加权的方法对数据进行处理;在合成总不确定度时,考虑了物质的均匀性和稳定性,同时考虑了稀释剂标定和同位素丰度以及称量误差等影响测定因素的不确定度。标准值的不确定度由三部分组成:第一部分是通过所有参与定值数据,采用ISOPLOT软件,利用加权的方法对数据进行计算处理得到的不确定度;第二部分是物质的均匀性和稳定性的不确定度;第三部分是影响测定其他因素的不确定度。     

X射线荧光光谱法测定土壤样品中氯的不确定度评定

用实例对x射线荧光光谱法测定土壤样品中氯的不确定度进行了评定。测量结果的不确定度由仪器综合稳定性、制样、标准物质、回归工作曲线、重复测量等所引入的不确定度分量组成。在对各个不确定度分量进行量化的基础上，通过合成得到测量结果的标准不确定度，再乘以95％置信概率下的扩展因子2，得到测量结果的扩展不确定度。     

Development and Re‐Evaluation of Tourmaline Reference Materials for In Situ Measurement of Boron δ Values by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

Six tourmaline samples were investigated as potential reference materials (RMs) for boron isotope measurement by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The tourmaline samples are chemically homogeneous and cover a compositional range of tourmaline supergroup minerals (primarily Fe, Mg and Li end‐members). Additionally, they have homogeneous boron delta values with intermediate precision values during SIMS analyses of less than 0.6‰ (2s). These samples were compared with four established tourmaline RMs, that is, schorl IAEA‐B‐4 and three Harvard tourmalines (schorl HS#112566, dravite HS#108796 and elbaite HS#98144). They were re‐evaluated for their major element and boron delta values using the same measurement procedure as the new tourmaline samples investigated. A discrepancy of about 1.5‰ in δ¹¹B was found between the previously published reference values for established RMs and the values determined in this study. Significant instrumental mass fractionation (IMF) of up to 8‰ in δ¹¹B was observed for schorl–dravite–elbaite solid solutions during SIMS analysis. Using the new reference values determined in this study, the IMF of the ten tourmaline samples can be modelled by a linear combination of the chemical parameters FeO + MnO, SiO₂ and F. The new tourmaline RMs, together with the four established RMs, extend the boron isotope analysis of tourmaline towards the Mg‐ and Al‐rich compositional range. Consequently, the in situ boron isotope ratio of many natural tourmalines can now be determined with an uncertainty of less than 0.8‰ (2s).     

High‐precision Determination of Gold Mass Fractions in Geological Reference Materials by Internal Standardisation

Determination of gold abundances in natural rock is critical for applications, but very challenging. Here, we report a method for determining gold with a very low mass fraction (> 0.01 ng g^?1) in rocks. The method involves Carius tube digestion with reverse aqua regia, chromatographic separation to remove most of the sample matrix and measurement by high‐sensitivity ICP‐MS. The mono‐isotopic element gold was quantified by external calibration using an internal standardisation of gold to platinum that was precisely determined by isotope dilution. The method is robust and the obtained results are indistinguishable (< 5–10%, 2s) from those independently obtained by a standard addition technique on the same solution. The results from reference materials TDB‐1 and GPt‐2 are consistent with the certified values and those determined by HF‐aqua regia digestion, confirming the validity of the method. TDB‐1 (n = 20), GPt‐2 (n = 6), BHVO‐2 (n = 9) and other mafic RMs are homogenous for gold (10–20%, 2s) at the 2 g test portion level; however, sample heterogeneity affects some RMs. Gold and platinum‐group elements also display different extents of sample heterogeneity for different RMs. Given the homogeneity observed for TDB‐1, GPt‐2 and BHOV‐2, they are recommended as well‐suited RMs for inter‐laboratory comparison studies of gold.     

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.     

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.     

大气颗粒物样品波长色散X射线荧光光谱法无机元素测量结果不确定度评估

分析了用X射线荧光光谱法（XRF）测定大气颗粒物样品（TSP）中Al、Na、Cl、Mg、Cu、zn、Ca、S、Fe、Mn、K、Pb、Cd、Ba等无机元素结果的不确定度来源，对石英滤膜颗粒物样品无机元素含量测量不确定度进行了评估。计算结果表明，XRF测定中无机元素薄膜标样示值误差和工作曲线拟合误差是测量结果不确定度的主要来源。对计算测量不确定度的公式合成法和蒙特卡洛（Monte Carlo）模拟法的结果进行了比较，两种计算方法所得的结果一致。     

Mass‐Independent and Mass‐Dependent Ca Isotopic Compositions of Thirteen Geological Reference Materials Measured by Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry

We report mass‐independent and mass‐dependent Ca isotopic compositions for thirteen geological reference materials, including carbonates (NIST SRM 915a and 915b), Atlantic seawater as well as ten rock reference materials ranging from peridotite to sandstone, using traditional ε and δ values relative to NIST SRM 915a, respectively. Isotope ratio determinations were conducted by independent unspiked and ⁴³Ca‐⁴⁸Ca double‐spiked measurements using a customised Triton Plus TIMS. The mean of twelve measurement results gave ε^40/44Ca values within ± 1.1, except for GSP‐2 that had ε^40/44Ca = 4.04 ± 0.15 (2SE). Significant radiogenic ⁴⁰Ca enrichment was evident in some high K/Ca samples. At an uncertainty level of ± 0.6, all reference materials had the same ε^43/44Ca and ε^48/44Ca values. We suggest the use of δ^44/42Ca to report mass‐dependent Ca isotopic compositions. The precision under intermediate measurement conditions for δ^44/42Ca over eight months in our laboratory was ± 0.03‰ (with n ≥ 8 repeat measurements). Measured igneous reference materials gave δ^44/42Ca values ranging from 0.27‰ to 0.54‰. Significant Ca isotope fractionation may occur during magmatic and metasomatism processes. Studied reference materials with higher (Dy_n/Yb_n) tend to have lower δ^44/42Ca, implying a potential role of garnet in producing magmas with low δ^44/42Ca. Sandstone GBW07106 had a δ^44/42Ca value of 0.22‰, lower than all igneous rocks studied so far.     

Rhenium‐Osmium Isotope Measurements of Geological Reference Material BIR‐1a: Evaluation of Homogeneity and Implications for Method Validation and Quality Control

To evaluate the homogeneity of geological reference material BIR‐1a (basalt; United States Geological Survey, USGS) for Re‐Os isotopic studies at the 0.2–1.0 g test portion size level, sixty‐three precise measurement results of Re and Os mass fractions and isotope amount ratios were obtained over an 18‐month period. These data reveal that the reference material has higher Re (0.691 ± 0.022 ng g^?1, 2s, n = 63) and lower Os mass fractions (0.343 ± 0.089 ng g^?1, 2s, n = 63) than UB‐N (serpentinite, CRPG) and is homogeneous in ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os isotope amount ratio (0.13371 ± 0.00092, 2s, n = 63) at the 0.2–1.0 g test portion size level. The results are essentially consistent with previous views indicating that BIR‐1a gives precise measurement results for Re‐Os isotope amount ratio measurements at the 1 g test portion size level (Ishikawa et al., Chemical Geology, 2014, 384, 27–46; Meisel and Horan, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 2016, 81, 89–106). Based on these new Re‐Os data and previous studies, we propose BIR‐1a as a useful reference material that can be used in method validation and quality control and interlaboratory comparisons for studies dealing with mafic geological samples at test portion sizes of > 0.4 g.     

Optimisation of Lithium Chromatography for Isotopic Analysis in Geological Reference Materials by MC‐ICP‐MS

The lithium isotope system can be an important tracer for various geological processes, especially tracing continental weathering. The key to this application is the accurate and precise determination of lithium isotopic composition. However, some of the previously established column separation methods are not well behaved when applied to chemically diverse materials, due to the significant variations in matrix/lithium ratios in some materials. Here, we report a new dual‐column system for lithium purification to achieve accurate and precise analysis of lithium isotopic compositions using a multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer (MC‐ICP‐MS). Compared with single‐column systems, our dual‐column system yielded a consistent elution range of the lithium‐bearing fraction (7–16 ml) for samples with a large range of lithium loads and matrix compositions, so that column re‐calibration is not required. In addition, this method achieved complete lithium recovery and low matrix interference (e.g., Na/Li ≤ 1) with a short elution time (~ 6 h, excluding evaporation), with the entire procedure completed in 1.5 days. We report high precision Li isotopic compositions in twelve chemically diverse materials including seawater, silicates, carbonates, manganese nodules and clays. New recommended Li isotopic values and associated uncertainties are presented as reference values for quality control and inter‐laboratory calibration for future research and were consistent with previously published data. However, significant lithium isotopic variances (~ 1‰) in BHVO‐2 from different batches suggest Li isotopic heterogeneity in this reference material and that Li isotopic studies using this reference material should be treated with caution.     

International Association of Geoanalysts' Protocol for the Certification of Geological and Environmental Reference Materials: A Supplement

The International Association of Geoanalysts (IAG) published a protocol for the certification of reference materials in close accord with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) guidelines (Kane et al. 2003). This article supplements that protocol, providing additional discussion of best approaches for pre-selecting laboratories for participation in certification projects. This discussion also makes a distinction between inter-laboratory certifications, where n = 15 is the general standard, and expert laboratory certifications, where a much smaller number of laboratories will be deemed qualified to provide data of the quality needed for certification.     

Preparation and Certification of Reference Materials (GBW07397, GBW07398, GBW07399 and GBW07400) for Selenium and Other Trace Element Mass Fractions

The preparation and characterisation of certified reference materials of four selenium‐rich rocks (GBW07397 to GBW07400) are described in this paper. The raw materials were derived from selenium‐rich rocks in two famous seleniferous regions, Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province and Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, China. Sample homogeneity and stability were tested by inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry and atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The determined element mass fractions included selenium, arsenic, copper, zinc, molybdenum, cadmium, lead, vanadium and silver. Except for silver, the results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the relative standard deviations of the element mass fractions showed that the four materials exhibited good homogeneity and stability. Ten laboratories were involved in an interlaboratory comparison scheme for certification. Eight element mass fractions in the selenium‐rich rocks were assigned as certified values, while only indicative values were obtained for Ag mass fractions. The certified values and expanded uncertainties for the selenium mass fractions in GBW07397–GBW07400 are 0.96 ± 0.05, 1.03 ± 0.05, 49 ± 4 and 38.5 ± 1.9 μg g^?1, respectively.     

Determination of Te,As, Bi,Sb and Se (TABS) in Geological Reference Materials and GeoPT Proficiency Test Materials by Hydride Generation‐Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (HG‐AFS)

The study of Te, As, Bi, Sb and Se (TABS) has increased over the past years due to their use in the development of low‐carbon energy technologies. However, there is a scarcity of mass fraction values of TABS in geological reference materials. This underlines the difficulty in undertaking routine determinations of these elements. The mass fractions of TABS were determined in geological reference materials using hydride generation‐atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG‐AFS), calibrated with standard solutions. Comparisons with literature values were used to validate the method. Samples from the GeoPT proficiency test were also analysed. For most elements, there are no assigned or even provisional values for many of the GeoPT and reference materials because of the wide range of results reported. For mass fractions above the quantification limit of the method, our results are in good agreement with the median of GeoPT results. Thus, we propose GeoPT median values as informational values for these elements. In contrast, at mass fractions < 0.5 µg g^?1 median values of Se from GeoPT are systematically higher than our results. Our Se results are in agreement with the reference materials down to 0.02 µg g^?1, which suggest that many of the results for Se reported in GeoPT testing are too high.     

Precise Determination of Rubidium in Geological Reference Materials by ID-TIMS and WD-XRF: A Discussion for the Basalt BIR-1

Data were obtained for rubidium in six geological reference materials by isotopic dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF). The results found by one technique compare very well with the other within the respective analytical uncertainties and are also in good agreement with data from previously published values. The particular case of low Rb determinations in reference sample BIR-1 is discussed.     

Evaluation of In Situ Heterogeneity of Elements in Solids: Implications for Analytical Geochemistry

A general method for the evaluation of in situ heterogeneity of geochemical materials is described and the significance of the results discussed, by using three case studies and earlier data sets. The heterogeneity of Pb in soil (expressed as RSD due to sampling, RSD_samp) varies from < 5 to > 100% between different sites, in a way that relates to the mode of deposition of the element. The heterogeneity of an element also varies systematically as a function of the distance scale at some sites. This variation can be modelled using linear regression, accounting for over 90% of the experimental variance, at seven scales over three orders of magnitude. Variation in heterogeneity between elements at the same site, seems to be somewhat diagnostic of the origin of the element, lithogenic being less than anthropogenic, although the later is also being modified by the mode of deposition. Where the heterogeneity is large (RSD > 30%), it is proposed that it can be expressed more accurately as a heterogeneity factor (10^GSDsamp), to reflect its frequency distribution, which is positively skewed towards higher concentration values.     

Incorporation of U,Pb and Rare Earth Elements in Calcite through Crystallisation from Amorphous Calcium Carbonate: Simple Preparation of Reference Materials for Microanalysis

Uncertainty for elemental and isotopic measurements in calcite by LA‐ICP‐MS is largely controlled by the homogeneity of the reference materials (RMs) used for calibration and validation. In order to produce calcite RMs with homogeneous elemental and isotopic compositions, we incorporated elements including U, Pb and rare earth elements into calcite through heat‐ and pressure‐induced crystallisation from amorphous calcium carbonate that was precipitated from element‐doped reagent solution. X‐ray absorption spectra showed that U was present as U(VI) in the synthesised calcite, probably with a different local structure from that of aqueous uranyl ions. The uptake rate of U by our calcite was higher in comparison with synthetic calcite of previous studies. Variations of element mass fractions in the calcite were better than 12% 2RSD, mostly within 7%. The ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratio in the calcite showed < 1% variations, while the ²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb ratio showed 3–24% variations depending on element mass fractions. Using the synthetic calcite as primary RMs, we could date a natural calcite RM, WC‐1, with analytical uncertainty as low as < 3%. The method presented can be useful to produce calcite with controlled and homogeneous element mass fractions and is a promising alternative to natural calcite RMs for U‐Pb geochronology.     

新生代透长石SK01作为39Ar-40Ar法定年标准物质的均匀性检验

39Ar-40Ar法定年分析过程中,对标准物质的需求有两个特点,一是需要将被测样品和年龄已知的标准样品同时放在核反应堆中进行快中子照射,标准样品的年龄直接参与被测样品年龄的计算;二是标准样品作为39 Ar-40 Ar法定年中的标尺,要求其年龄和被测样品年龄不宜相差太远,因此需要研制具有不同年龄值的标准物质用于分析不同时代地质样品.本文在研制新生代地质样品39 Ar-40 Ar定年标准物质过程中,通过综合研究,选定了可可西里风火山超浅成石英斑岩中的透长石SK01作为候选标准矿物,按照规定对其39 Ar-40Ar年龄值(特性量值)进行均匀性检验.统计结果显示,特性量值的F值为0.857,小于F临界值2.08,相对标准偏差为0.66％,远小于规定的5％范围,证明本批样品的均匀性良好,符合国家一级标准物质技术规范(JJG 1006-94)要求.模拟运输过程进行颠震试验,试验结果F值为0.00697,远小于F临界值6.59,其相对标准偏差为0.58％,远小于规定的5％范围,证明样品在运输过程中颠震对其均匀性无影响.最小取样量试验表明,在目前的实验条件水平下,为保证标准物质作为准确的年龄标尺的作用,透长石SK01的39 Ar-40 Ar年龄标准物质最小取样量为5 mg.综合检验结果表明,本批所选的新生代透长石SK01样品的均匀性良好,可以用于39Ar-40Ar年龄标准物质的定值分析.