The Preparation and Characterisation of Two New Geological Survey of Japan Geochemical Reference Materials: Copper ore JCu-1 and Zinc ore JZn-1

Two new geochemical reference materials, copper ore JCu-1 and zinc ore JZn-1 have been prepared by the Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) for the determination of major and minor elements and isotopic compositions. JCu-1 is a sample of Cu-bearing sulfide ore typical of the Kamaishi mine in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and is composed mainly of hedenbergite, chalcopyrite, quartz and calcite. Pyrrhotite, magnetite and actinolitic amphibole were also commonly found. The Zn-rich ore, JZn-1 is a crude ore from the Kamioka Pb-Zn mine in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The sample consists of hedenbergite, quartz, calcite, sphalerite and epidote as main crystalline phase. Homogeneity test results showed that all studied constituents including ore elements such as Cu, Pb and Zn can be considered to be homogeneously distributed. Provisional collaborative analyses were carried out in ten laboratories, and the data were evaluated using a robust statistical method using z-scores. Recommended values for a number of major elements including TiO₂, Al₂O₃, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, Fe (total), Zn, Cu and Pb were established. In addition, information values for eighteen major, minor and trace elements are presented to support future collaborative analyses.