Isotopic composition ( 238U/ 235U) of some commonly used uranium reference materials

Abstract

We have determined 238U/ 235U ratios for a suite of commonly used natural (CRM 112a, SRM 950a, and HU-1) and synthetic (IRMM 184 and CRM U500) uranium reference materials by thermal ionisation mass-spectrometry (TIMS) using the IRMM 3636 233U– 236U double spike to accurately correct for mass fractionation. Total uncertainty on the 238U/ 235U determinations is estimated to be <0.02% (2σ). These natural 238U/ 235U values are different from the widely used ‘consensus’ value (137.88), with each standard having lower 238U/ 235U values by up to 0.08%. The 238U/ 235U ratio determined for CRM U500 and IRMM 184 are within error of their certified values; however, the total uncertainty for CRM U500 is substantially reduced (from 0.1% to 0.02%). These reference materials are commonly used to assess mass-spectrometer performance and accuracy, calibrate isotope tracers employed in U, U–Th and U–Pb isotopic studies, and as a reference for terrestrial and meteoritic 238U/ 235U variations. These new 238U/ 235U values will thus provide greater accuracy and reduced uncertainty for a wide variety of isotopic determinations.