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Method for ultra-low-level analysis of gold in rocks

Method for ultra-low-level analysis of gold in rocks
Method for ultra-low-level analysis of gold in rocks
A new method for analyzing gold at ultralow concentrations (<10 pg/g) in geological samples has been developed involving HF-aqua regia acid digestion, chromatographic separation of Au from matrix elements using DIBK supported on an inert resin, and analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS). This method has an analytical detection limit of 2 parts per trillion (pg/g), significantly lower than most routinely used methods developed for analysis of ore samples with Au concentrations considerably higher than average crustal abundance (~2 ng/g). Such methods commonly have detection limits in the low nanogram per gram range. Many areas of geological research including ore genesis, crustal mobility and redistribution, planetary differentiation, and plume volcanism require quantitative analysis of geological materials with much lower Au concentrations. We present a rapid, easy to use method where Au is separated from matrix elements onto extractant primed chromatographic resin and analyzed by quadrupole ICPMS. The method is suitable for the relatively rapid analysis of a large number of samples and is reliable over a wide range of concentrations from picogram to microgram per gram level. Analysis of four different geostandards, GXR1, GXR4, CH-3, and SARM 7, yields concentrations within error of the published concentrations with accuracies of >95%.

0003-2700
1290-1295
Pitcairn, I.K.
fc7fc820-5cd9-4070-9623-23325563bc9f
Warwick, P.E.
f2675d83-eee2-40c5-b53d-fbe437f401ef
Milton, J.A.
9e183221-d0d4-4ddb-aeba-0fdde9d31230
Teagle, D.A.H.
396539c5-acbe-4dfa-bb9b-94af878fe286
Pitcairn, I.K.
fc7fc820-5cd9-4070-9623-23325563bc9f
Warwick, P.E.
f2675d83-eee2-40c5-b53d-fbe437f401ef
Milton, J.A.
9e183221-d0d4-4ddb-aeba-0fdde9d31230
Teagle, D.A.H.
396539c5-acbe-4dfa-bb9b-94af878fe286

Pitcairn, I.K., Warwick, P.E., Milton, J.A. and Teagle, D.A.H. (2006) Method for ultra-low-level analysis of gold in rocks. Analytical Chemistry, 78 (4), 1290-1295. (doi:10.1021/ac051861z).

Record type: Article

Abstract

A new method for analyzing gold at ultralow concentrations (<10 pg/g) in geological samples has been developed involving HF-aqua regia acid digestion, chromatographic separation of Au from matrix elements using DIBK supported on an inert resin, and analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS). This method has an analytical detection limit of 2 parts per trillion (pg/g), significantly lower than most routinely used methods developed for analysis of ore samples with Au concentrations considerably higher than average crustal abundance (~2 ng/g). Such methods commonly have detection limits in the low nanogram per gram range. Many areas of geological research including ore genesis, crustal mobility and redistribution, planetary differentiation, and plume volcanism require quantitative analysis of geological materials with much lower Au concentrations. We present a rapid, easy to use method where Au is separated from matrix elements onto extractant primed chromatographic resin and analyzed by quadrupole ICPMS. The method is suitable for the relatively rapid analysis of a large number of samples and is reliable over a wide range of concentrations from picogram to microgram per gram level. Analysis of four different geostandards, GXR1, GXR4, CH-3, and SARM 7, yields concentrations within error of the published concentrations with accuracies of >95%.

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Published date: 2006

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 44790
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/44790
ISSN: 0003-2700
PURE UUID: c00ccae6-8bcc-46fe-a1c0-8a784a5ec286
ORCID for P.E. Warwick: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8774-5125
ORCID for J.A. Milton: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4245-5532
ORCID for D.A.H. Teagle: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4416-8409

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Date deposited: 15 Mar 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:14

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Contributors

Author: I.K. Pitcairn
Author: P.E. Warwick ORCID iD
Author: J.A. Milton ORCID iD
Author: D.A.H. Teagle ORCID iD

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