Assessing rare earth elements in quartz rich geological samples

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  • A. Santoro
  • V. Thoss
  • S.R. Guevara
  • D. Urgast
  • A. Raab
  • S. Mastrolitti
  • J. Feldman
Sodium peroxide (Na2O2) fusion coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) measurements was used to rapidly screen quartz-rich geological samples for rare earth element (REE) content. The method accuracy was checked with a geological reference material and instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) measurements. The used mass-mode combinations presented accurate results (only exception being Gd-157 in He gas mode) with recovery of the geological reference material QLO-1 between 80% and 98% (lower values for Lu, Nd and Sm) and in general comparable to INAA measurements. Low limits of detection for all elements were achieved, generally below 10 pg g(-1), as well as measurement repeatability below 15%. Overall, the Na2O2/ICP-MS/MS method proved to be a suitable lab-based method to quickly and accurately screen rock samples originating from quartz-rich geological areas for rare earth element content; particularly useful if checking commercial viability.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)323-329
JournalApplied Radiation and Isotopes
Volume107
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Oct 2015
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