Analysis of the CCRMP Oka-2 rare-earth reference mineral of the britholite—apatite series by electrothermal atomic-absorption and inductively-coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry

Abstract

The lanthanides and yttrium in the Canadian Certified Reference Materials Project (CCRMP) new rare-earth mineral reference material, Oka-2, were determined by electrothermal atomic-absorption and inductively-coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry (ICPAES) after sample decomposition with acids and separation of the rare-earth metals from phosphate and other matrix elements by precipitation as fluorides and oxalates. Thorium, yttrium and the common major and minor elements were determined by ICPAES after sample decomposition by fusion with lithium meta- and tetraborates and dissolution of the melt in a mixture of dilute nitric acid and ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid solution. For comparison purposes, silicon, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and iron were also determined by other methods. The results obtained are compared with other CCRMP values and with those obtained previously for a similar rare-earth mineral from the same geographical area. Oka-2 is considered to be a thorian intermediate member of the britholite—apatite series.