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Intercomparison of Boron Isotope and Concentration Measurements. Part II: Evaluation of Results
Author(s) -
Gonfiantini Roberto,
Tonarini Sonia,
Gröning Manfred,
AdorniBraccesi Alessandra,
AlAmmar Assad S.,
Astner Marcus,
Bächler Sebastien,
Barnes Ramon M.,
Bassett Randy L.,
Cocherie Alain,
Deyhle Annette,
Dini Andrea,
Ferrara Giorgio,
Gaillardet Jérôme,
Grimm Judith,
Guerrot Catherine,
Krähenbühl Urs,
Layne Graham,
Lemarchand Damien,
Meixner Anette,
Northington D. Jack,
Pennisi Maddalena,
Reitznerová Eva,
Rodushkin Ilia,
Sugiura Naoji,
Surberg Regina,
Tonn Sabine,
Wiedenbeck Michael,
Wunderli Samuel,
Xiao Yingkai,
Zack Thomas
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geostandards newsletter
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1751-908X
pISSN - 0150-5505
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-908x.2003.tb00711.x
Subject(s) - boron , isotopes of boron , reproducibility , isotope , environmental chemistry , environmental science , chemistry , mineralogy , analytical chemistry (journal) , radiochemistry , chromatography , physics , nuclear physics , organic chemistry
The Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse (IGG), on behalf and with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), prepared eight geological materials (three natural waters and five rocks and minerals), intended for a blind interlaboratory comparison of measurements of boron isotopic composition and concentration. The materials were distributed to twenty seven laboratories ‐ virtually all those performing geochemical boron isotope analyses in the world ‐which agreed to participate in the intercomparison exercise. Only fifteen laboratories, however, ultimately submitted the isotopic and/or concentration results they obtained on the intercomparison materials. The results demonstrate that interlaboratory reproducibility is not well reflected by the precision values reported by the individual laboratories and this observation holds true for both boron concentration and isotopic composition. The reasons for the discrepancies include fractionations due to the chemical matrix of materials, relative shift of the zero position on the δ 11 B scale and a lack of well characterized materials for calibrating absolute boron content measurements. The intercomparison materials are now available at the IAEA (solid materials) and IGG (waters) for future distribution.