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High‐precision magnesium isotope analysis of geological and environmental reference materials by multiple‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Gao Ting,
Ke Shan,
Li Ruiying,
Meng Xu'nan,
He Yongsheng,
Liu Chengshuai,
Wang Yang,
Li Zijian,
Zhu JianMing
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.8376
Subject(s) - chemistry , accuracy and precision , isotope , inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry , isotopes of magnesium , analytical chemistry (journal) , reproducibility , mass spectrometry , inductively coupled plasma , silicate , magnesium , environmental chemistry , chromatography , plasma , statistics , physics , mathematics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Rationale High‐precision magnesium (Mg) isotopic analysis for geological and environmental reference materials is a prerequisite to ensure data quality before using Mg isotopes to trace geochemical and environmental processes. However, the Mg‐isotopic ratios of many commonly used reference materials, especially sediments, have rarely been reported. Furthermore, published values for some commonly used reference materials exhibit a significant inconsistency across laboratories and thus need more data comparison. Methods We developed different Mg purification schemes for silicate rocks, high‐Ca carbonates and carbonatites, and high‐Mn samples because of their significantly different matrices. We then used synthetic solutions to evaluate potential effects on measurement using multiple‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC‐ICP‐MS). The accuracy and precision of our procedures were assessed by measurement on both synthetic solutions and well‐studied geostandards. Results The three different schemes for routine, high‐Ca, and high‐Mn samples can remove matrices efficiently with nearly 100% Mg yield. However, the presence of acid molarity and concentration mismatch, matrix elements, and fluctuations in room temperature can significantly affect the precision and accuracy of Mg isotope analysis, and must be avoided. The Mg isotopic ratios of reference materials obtained in this study are identical to the previously published values within ±0.06‰, verifying that our procedures are robust. Conclusions This study presented a thorough set of tests for high precision and accuracy of Mg isotope measurements using MC‐ICP‐MS, which demonstrate reproducibility and accuracy better than 0.05‰ for δ 25 Mg values and 0.06‰ for δ 26 Mg values. We reported high‐quality Mg isotopic data for 16 geological and environmental reference materials to aid the inter‐laboratory calibration of Mg isotope measurements in the future.