Current and emerging analytical techniques for geochemical and geochronological studies

Abstract

Water-rock interactions, fluid/ sulphur, carbon sources, crystallization temperatures Noble gases, and naturally occurring artificial isotopes such as 10 Be, 14 C, 20 Al, 36 Cl and 129 I which are formed by cosmic ray interaction in upper atmosphere Modelling the rates of more recent geochemical processes: e.g., dating of geologically young materials like, soils, etc.

Strategies to overcome interferences in elemental and isotopic geochemical analysis by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: A critical evaluation of the recent developments

“…This category includes sample contamination effects during the entire process of geological sample collection, transportation, storage, pulverizing, grinding, sample preparation, preservation, laboratory environment, and sample nebulization procedures, and memory effects during sample nebulization and analysis. Some of these aspects for all types of geological samples including sample homogeneity have been discussed in depth recently 3 . Rodushkin et al 53 provided a comprehensive general summary of different sources of contamination and remedial measures to be adopted for obtaining precise and accurate multi‐elemental trace analysis.…”

“…For example, Shinotsuka et al 88 employed Rh for Y, In and Tl for REE, and Bi for Th and U, while Balaram et al 67 used Cd as an internal standard for Ru, Rh, and Pd, and Tl as an internal standard for Ir, Pt, and Au, for their precise measurement in geological materials because of the close proximity of these masses to those of the analyte isotopes. When internal standards are incorporated into the sample solutions during sample preparation along with the sample powder, acids, and other reagents, they also help to correct for any loss of analyte(s) during sample preparation or introduction 3 . Commonly used internal standards in geochemical analysis include 9 Be, 45 Sc, 89 Y, 103 Rh, 115 In, and 209 Bi 86,89 .…”

“…External calibration with synthetic standard solutions or matrix‐matching geochemical reference materials with internal standardization is normally practiced in geochemical analysis 3 . As the range in matrix compositions can be vast, one of the most effective procedures for tackling spectral and non‐spectral interferences in ICP‐MS measurements is to use matrix‐matching calibrations employing certified reference materials (CRMs) 37,103,104 .…”

“…In another example, Sugiyama and Shikamori 162 determined all eight noble metals, four of them (Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag) using on‐mass mode since these metals showed low reactivity with NH 3 , and the remaining four (Os, Ir, Pt, and Au) using mass‐shift mode as these elements are highly reactive to NH 3 . Machado et al 163 accurately determined Cd, Sn, Pd, Pt, and Rh in sediments by ICP‐MS/MS using oxygen into the octopole reaction system (ORS 3 ) to overcome spectral interferences in both on‐mass and mass‐shift mode.…”

“…Geochemistry is a rapidly expanding branch in earth sciences, utilized not only to understand the early evolution of the earth, the origin of life, and its mineral resources, but also to safeguard our planet and humans from environmental pollution 1–3 . Much of this progress in geochemistry has come from advances and innovations in analytical instrumentation, especially the development of quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) for quantitative trace and ultra‐trace element, and isotopic analysis 4,5 .…”