Routine quantitative multi-element analysis of sulphide minerals by laser ablation ICP-MS: Standard development and consideration of matrix effects

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper describes a calibration standard for quantitative in-situ multi-element analysis of sulphide minerals by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Standard STDGL2b2 is a mixture of 25% Zn concentrate and 75% pyrrhotite doped with a number of additional trace elements and fused into an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) glass disk. The homogeneity of the disk has been tested for the 55 elements of interest. All elements except Se, Tl, Au and Pt are homogenous ( For the analysis of pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite, analytical errors caused by matrix-dependent fractionation have been evaluated by analysing five pressed-powder pellets.. The compositions of the powders have been analysed by XRF and solution ICP-MS. When Fe or Pb can be used as the internal standard, errors for most elements are Comparison of the results obtained with two different laser microprobes, a solid state 213 nm and an excimer 193 nm, indicates that either is well suited for LA-ICP-MS analysis of sulphide minerals using STDGL2b2 as the calibration standard. Use of STDGL2b2 significantly improves accuracy of sulphide analysis by LA-ICP-MS compared to silicate reference materials, such as the NIST 600 series.