High‐Precision Trace Element Data for the USGS Reference Materials BCR‐1, BCR‐2, BHVO‐1, BHVO‐2, AGV‐1, AGV‐2, DTS‐1, DTS‐2, GSP‐1 and GSP‐2 by ID‐TIMS and MIC‐SSMS

Abstract

Different batches of the new US Geological Survey (USGS) reference materials (RMs) BCR‐2, BHVO‐2, AGV‐2, DTS‐2 and GSP‐2 and the original USGS RMs BCR‐1, BHVO‐1, AGV‐1, DTS‐1 and GSP‐1 have been analysed by isotope dilution using thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (ID‐TIMS) and by multi‐ion counting spark source mass spectrometry (MIC‐SSMS). The concentrations of K, Rb, Sr, Ba and the rare earth elements were determined with overall analytical uncertainties of better than 1% (ID‐TIMS) and 3% (MIC‐SSMS). The analyses of different aliquots and batches of BCR‐2, BHVO‐2, AGV‐2 and GSP‐2, respectively, agree within 1%, i.e. approximately the analytical uncertainties of the data. This indicates an homogeneous distribution of the trace elements in these RMs. Differences in element concentrations of up to 17% in different aliquots of the depleted RM DTS‐2 are outside the analytical uncertainty of our data. They may be attributed to a slightly heterogeneous distribution of trace elements in this dunite sample. Our trace element data for BCR‐2, BHVO‐2, AGV‐2 and GSP‐2 agree within about 3% with preliminary reference values published by the USGS. They also agree within 1‐6% with those of the original RMs BCR‐1, BHVO‐1, AGV‐1 and GSP‐1. Large compositional differences are found between DTS‐2 and DTS‐1, where the concentrations of K, Rb, Sr and the light REE differ by factors of 2 to 24.