Low‐Level Analysis of Lanthanides in Eleven Silicate Rock Reference Materials by ICP‐MS After Group Separation Using Cation‐Exchange Chromotography

Abstract

A simple method is described for the determination of lanthanides in depleted rocks based on acid dissolution, cation‐exchange chromatography and ICP‐MS analysis using a low flow, microconcentric nebuliser. The potential of the method is evaluated by analysis in triplicate of eleven low‐concentration level geochemical reference materials (UB‐N, NIM‐D, BIR‐1, DNC‐1, JB‐2, JGb‐1, JGb‐2, NIM‐N, NIM‐P, FK‐N and MA‐N). The repeatability of the three dissolutions is between 0.2% and 0.6% relative standard deviation (RSD) for basaltic samples BIR‐1 and JB‐2, with the exception of La in BIR‐1 (2.6% RSD), presumably because of blank or memory effects. The results are more scattered for coarsegrained rocks. A good agreement between the results and working values is observed for most mafic samples and the serpentinite UB‐N. Significant deviations observed between the data obtained in this work and working values for some reference materials might reflect heterogeneities of the REE distributions in coarse‐grained (especially granitic) rocks at the 10 0 mg sub‐sampling scale.

The northern Ossa-Morena Cadomian batholith (Iberian Massif): magmatic arc origin and early evolution

“…Whole-rock major and trace element analysis: Major (wt.%) and trace element (mg/g) concentrations were measured by simultaneous ICP-AES at the University of Bilbao following procedures described by Cantagrel and Pin (1984) and Pin and Joannon (1997). Total iron is given as Fe 2 O 3 .…”

Early Devonian suprasubduction-zone ophiolite related to incipient collisional processes in the Western Variscan Belt: The Sierra de Careón unit, Ordenes Complex, Galicia

“…Total iron is given as Fe 2 O 3 . Analytical uncertainty for trace elements is estimated as 10% or better (see Cantagrel and Pin, 1994;Pin and Joannon, 1997, for additional details).…”

Determination of lanthanoids and yttrium in JGb2 and JR3 by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after cation-exchange pretreatment.

“…The author recommend the separation of REEs in rock samples from the matrix elements before ICP-MS measurement because of accomplishing more reliable analysis, more reproducible measurement and less damage to mass spectrometer; matrix-eliminated sample throughput showed excellent long-term instrumental stability, which enabled us to apply ICP-MS to the accurate routine analysis for the determination of REEs in rocks. Pin and Joannon (1997).…”

“…When accurate and precise analytical data are required for such samples as certified reference materials, ICP-MS coupled with the pretreatment with column separation techniques will be more desired (Hirata et al, 1988;Barrat et al, 1996;Pin and Joannon, 1997). The ICP-MS coupled with the pretreatment can eliminate most of the disadvantages accompanying with ICP-MS measurements.…”

“…Literature values (Pin and Joannon, 1997) for REEs in JGb2 are also included in Table 7 for the comparison of the present REEs data and the methodology differences. The literature values were obtained by ICP-MS fitted with a low flow, micro-concentric nebulizer after group separation using cation-exchange chromatography which was based on the sequential use of HCl and HNO 3 as eluting agents.…”