Trace Element Data for Gold, Iridium and Silver in Seventy Geochemical Reference Materials

Abstract

New concentrations for Au, Ir and Ag obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis are presented for seventy geochemical reference materials. Results in agreement with literature values for Au and Ir down to concentrations of a few ng g−1 were obtained. For Au and Ir concentrations above 10 ng g−1, the repeatability of replicate analyses of reference materials was mostly better than 10%. For concentrations between 1 and 10 ng g−1 the RSD for Ir was 10–30%, whereas for Au it was higher and more variable (20–50%). In addition, concentrations for Cd and Hg are presented for some of the same reference materials. The high RSD at relatively high concentrations seen in gold for some RMs (e.g., WMG‐1, WMS‐1) did not exist for Ir and suggests homogeneity for this platinum‐group element at the sub‐sample size used in this study. For the following eight RMs, mostly ultramafic rocks (CHR‐Pt+, OREAS‐13P, OREAS‐14P, PCC‐1, UMT‐1, WMG‐1, WMS‐1, WPR‐1), Ir measurements agreed within ± 10% of mostly certified or recommended concentrations, which ranged from 2 ng g−1 to 6 μg g−1. For the reference material UB‐N, iridium concentration compared favourably to published results obtained by isotope dilution ICP‐MS methods and a previously unrecognised heterogeneity is inferred for Au, Hg and Sb, but not for the other measured elements.