Determination of whole-rock trace-element compositions of siliceous rocks using MgO-diluted fused glass and LA–ICP–MS

Abstract

The whole-rock trace-element compositions of igneous rocks provide primary geochemical information about their petrogenesis. Such compositions can be determined by LA–ICP–MS analysis of fused-glass samples as well as the conventional solution ICP–MS method. However, in contrast to basalt and andesite, the fused-glass method is not suitable for Si-rich rocks (granite and rhyolite) due to the difficulty of making homogeneous glasses. To extend the method to Si-rich rocks, we adopted an MgO dilution process to prepare fused glasses and evaluated the technique by analysis of granite and rhyolite reference materials. Dilution of 30 mg of powdered samples with 10 mg MgO facilitated the preparation of homogeneous fused-glass samples of felsic rocks. LA–ICP–MS analyses indicate that the fused glass is homogeneous in the contents of most incompatible elements considered in igneous petrology. The glass enables the analysis of these elements in felsic rocks within 20% deviation from reference data. The sample data are consistent with reference values for rhyolite although Zr and Hf data deviate significantly (by ~40%) from reference values for granitic rocks.