Accurate Determination of Chlorine, Bromine and Iodine in U.S. Geological Survey Geochemical Reference Materials by Radiochemical Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

Trace amounts of three halogens (chlorine, bromine and iodine) in seventeen U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) geochemical reference materials were determined by radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA). The materials analysed were AGV‐2 (andesite), BCR‐2, BHVO‐2 and BIR‐1a (basalts), CLB‐1 (coal), COQ‐1 (carbonatite), DGPM‐1 (disseminated gold ore), DNC‐1a (dolerite), DTS‐2b (dunite), GSP‐2 (granodiorite), Nod‐A‐1 and Nod‐P‐1 (manganese nodules), QLO‐1a (quartz latite), SBC‐1 (marine shale), SDC‐1 (mica schist), SGR‐1b (shale rock) and W‐2a (diabase). The chlorine, bromine and iodine contents were determined to be 5.64 mg kg−1 (BIR‐1a) to 4410 mg kg−1 (Nod‐A‐1), 0.039 mg kg−1 (BIR‐1a) to 52.1 mg kg−1 (CLB‐1), and 0.041 mg kg−1 (BIR‐1a) to 599 mg kg−1 (CLB‐1), respectively. The RNAA data of the three halogens were compared with the corresponding data in the literature.