Calcium Isotopic Compositions of Sixteen USGS Reference Materials

• Published in: Geostandards and geoanalytical research Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 93 - 106
• Main Authors: Feng, Lan‐ping, Zhou, Lian, Yang, Lu, DePaolo, Donald J., Tong, Shuo‐Yun, Liu, Yong‐Sheng, Owens, Thomas L., Gao, Shan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2017
• Subjects: calcium; double spike; stable isotopes; thermal ionisation mass spectrometry; USGS reference materials; China, People's Rep., Hubei Prov., Wuhan; USA, California, Berkeley
• ISSN: 1639-4488; 1751-908X
• DOI: 10.1111/ggr.12131

Calcium isotopic compositions of sixteen Ca‐bearing USGS geological reference materials including igneous and sedimentary rocks are reported. Calcium isotopic compositions were determined in two laboratories (GPMR, State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan; and CIG, Centre for Isotope Geochemistry, University of California, Berkeley) using the 42Ca‐48Ca double‐spike technique by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry. As opposed to common cation exchange resin, a micro‐column filled with Ca‐selective resin (DGA resin) was used in order to achieve high recovery (> 96%) and efficient separation of Ca from the sample matrix. The intermediate measurement precision was evaluated at 0.14‰ (2s) for δ44/40CaSRM915a at GPMR, based on replicate measurements of pure Ca reference material NIST SRM 915a, NIST SRM 915b and seawater. Overall, the measurement uncertainties in both laboratories were better than 0.15‰ at the 2s level. Result validation was carried out for all available data sets. The Ca isotopic compositions of USGS reference materials are not only in agreement between GPMR and CIG, but also in agreement with previously published data within quoted uncertainties. The comprehensive data set reported in this study serves as a reference for both quality assurance and interlaboratory comparison of high precision Ca isotopic study. Key Points Calcium isotopic compositions of sixteen USGS reference materials were analyzed by double‐spike TIMS in two laboratories. Highly efficient separation of Ca was achieved by using micro‐columns filled with Ca spec (DGA) resin. Excellent inter‐laboratory agreement indicates data accuracy.