Molybdenum Concentrations Measured in Eleven USGS Geochemical Reference Materials by Isotope Dilution Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Molybdenum concentrations in eleven USGS geochemical reference materials AGV‐1, BCR‐1, BHVO‐1, BIR‐1, DNC‐1, DTS‐1, G‐2, GSP‐1, MAG‐1, PCC‐1 and W‐2 were measured by isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (ID‐TIMS). In every case but one, the concentrations determined in this study were significantly lower than the current consensus values. Molybdenum concentrations determined by ID‐TIMS are inherently more accurate and precisions may be up to an order of magnitude higher than those measured by other analytical techniques.