Determination of elemental concentrations in nine CMEA rock and ore standards, in fired clay GHENT (FCG) and in NBS 98 plastic clay by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Abstract

A wide variety of rock and mineral types are needed for use internationally as geological reference materials. More data, particularly for trace elements, are needed in the literature for many such existing reference materials. Concentration data for as many as 31 elements have been determined by instrumental thermal neutron activation analysis for nine European Community for Economic Development (CMEA) rock and ore standards. The standards analyzed were granite GM, granitoid 2B, black shale TS, monzonite MB, basalt BM, gabbro GV, nepheline syenite SNS-2, porphyry copper ore MrA, and lead-zinc ore OCrO.The Belgian Fired Clay Ghent FCG and the National Bureau of Standards Plastic Clay NBS 98 also were analyzed. Synthetic, multielement standards were used and USGS rock standards provided reference samples. Correction factors for uranium fission products on cerium and molybdenum and also less commonly encountered spectral interferences, such as those due to the 213 ppm tantalum in Granitoid 2B, were evaluated.