Revised <i>δ</i> ³⁴ S reference values for IAEA sulfur isotope reference materials S‐2 and S‐3

Abstract

Revised delta(34)S reference values with associated expanded uncertainties (95% confidence interval (C.I.)) are presented for the sulfur isotope reference materials IAEA-S-2 (22.62 +/- 0.16 per thousand) and IAEA-S-3 (-32.49 +/- 0.16 per thousand). These revised values are determined using two relative-difference measurement techniques, gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GIRMS) and double-spike multi-collector thermal ionization mass spectrometry (MC-TIMS). Gas analyses have traditionally been considered the most robust for relative isotopic difference measurements of sulfur. The double-spike MC-TIMS technique provides an independent method for value-assignment validation and produces revised values that are both unbiased and more precise than previous value assignments. Unbiased delta(34)S values are required to anchor the positive and negative end members of the sulfur delta (delta) scale because they are the basis for reporting both delta(34)S values and the derived mass-independent Delta(33)S and Delta(36)S values.