title: Assessing rare earth elements in quartz rich geological samples.
abstract: Sodium peroxide (Na2O2) fusion coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) measurements was used to rapidly screen quartz-rich geological samples for rare earth element (REE) content. The method accuracy was checked with a geological reference material and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) measurements. The used mass-mode combinations presented accurate results (only exception being (157)Gd in He gas mode) with recovery of the geological reference material QLO-1 between 80% and 98% (lower values for Lu, Nd and Sm) and in general comparable to INAA measurements. Low limits of detection for all elements were achieved, generally below 10 pg g(-1), as well as measurement repeatability below 15%. Overall, the Na2O2/ICP-MS/MS method proved to be a suitable lab-based method to quickly and accurately screen rock samples originating from quartz-rich geological areas for rare earth element content; particularly useful if checking commercial viability.
authors.affiliation: Bangor University, School of Chemistry, Bangor LL57 2UW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Bangor University, School of Chemistry, Bangor LL57 2UW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thoss
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Análisis por Activación Neutrónica, Centro Atómico Bariloche, 8400 Bariloche, Argentina. Electronic address: ribeiro@cab.cnea.gov.ar.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribeiro Guevara
authors.affiliation: Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, University of Aberdeen, AB24 3UE Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Urgast
authors.affiliation: Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, University of Aberdeen, AB24 3UE Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raab
authors.affiliation: National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 70126 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mastrolitti
authors.affiliation: Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, University of Aberdeen, AB24 3UE Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feldmann
keywords: ICP-MS; INAA; Quartz; Rare earth elements; Sodium peroxide