Determination of Sm/Nd and Sr isotopic composition using an ICP-MS Neptune Plus equipped with an NWR 213 attachment for laser ablation

Abstract

Research subject. The Sm/Nd isotope system was investigated using inter-laboratory natural samples of apatite, titanite, allanite, monazite, as well as intra-laboratory samples of apatite (from carbonatites, Ilmenogorsk massif, Ural), monazite (from pegmatites of the Aduy granite massif and its framing, Middle Urals) and titanite (from calcite veins, Saranov skoye chromite deposit, Middle Urals and from alkaline pegmatite, Shpat mine, Vishnevy mountains, South Urals). The Sr isotope system was investigated using inter-laboratory natural apatite samples and intra-laboratory apatite samples (from the apatite-carbonate vein, Slyudyanogorskoe deposit, Irkutsk region and from carbonatites, Ilmenogorsk massif, Ural).Methods. The research was carried using a Neptune Plus multicollector mass spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma (ThermoFisher) equipped with an NWR 213 (ESI) laser ablation attachment, located in a room of ISO class 7 at the “Geoanalyst” Center for Collective Use (IGG Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg). Results. The article describes methodological approaches for studying Sm/Nd and Sr isotope systems in natural phosphate and silicate minerals by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with laser ablation, implemented on the equipment of the Center for Collective Use “Geoanalyst” (IGG Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg). A comparative analysis of the obtained results with those reported in literature showed their satisfactory agreement. The developed analytical approaches were used to study apatite samples (analysis of the Sr isotope system) and those of apatite, monazite, titanite (analysis of the Sr isotope system). Conclusions. The developed approaches to the analysis of Sm/Nd and Sr isotopic systems can be recommended for investigating such minerals, as apatite, titanite, allanite, monazite (analysis of the Sm/Nd isotope system); apatite (analysis of the Sr isotope system). The achieved analysis errors allow the results to be used for interpreting various geochemical processes.