This project is aimed at the development and characterisation of new calibration reference materials for LA-ICP-MS analysis of various geological materials.

Calibration standard STDGL3 for sulfide analysis is being distributed to several analytical laboratories worldwide. A manuscript describing this new reference material is in preparation.

A manuscript describing the composition of an olivine reference material has been accepted for publication in Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research.

Collaboration continued in 2019 with the University of Kiel and the Université du Quebec à Chicoutimi on characterising pressed nano-particle pellets of sulfide minerals. A collaboration continues with the University of Bristol and Moscow State University on the characterisation of plagioclase reference material.

This project is aimed at the development and characterisation of new calibration reference materials for LA-ICP-MS analysis of various geological materials.

Calibration standard STDGL3 for sulfide analysis is being distributed to several analytical laboratories worldwide. A manuscript describing this new reference material is in preparation.

A manuscript describing the composition of an olivine reference material has been accepted for publication in Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research.

Collaboration began in 2018 with the University of Kiel and the Université du Quebec à Chicoutimi on characterising pressed nano-particle pellets of sulfide minerals.

A collaboration continues with the University of Bristol and Moscow State University on the characterisation of plagioclase reference material.

This project is aimed at the development and characterisation of new calibration reference materials for LA-ICP-MS analysis of various geological materials.

Calibration standard STDGL3 for sulfide analysis has been distributed to several analytical laboratories, including facilities located in Asia, Europe and the USA. A manuscript describing this new reference material is in preparation.

The compositions of an olivine reference material have been finalised as part of an international collaboration involving six laboratories in Australia, the USA, Europe and Japan. A manuscript will be submitted for publication in 2018.

A collaboration continues with the University of Bristol and Moscow State University on the characterisation of plagioclase reference material.

This project is aimed at the development and characterisation of new calibration reference materials for LA-ICP-MS analysis of various geological materials.

The development of the new calibration standard STDGL3 for sulfide analysis was completed during the year, and the standard has been distributed to several analytical laboratories, including facilities located in Asia, Europe and the USA. A manuscript describing this new reference material is in preparation.

The compositions of olivine reference material have been determined as part of an international collaboration involving five laboratories in the USA, Europe and Japan. A manuscript is also in preparation covering this research.

A collaboration has commenced with the University of Bristol and Moscow State University on the characterisation of plagioclase reference material.

This project is aimed at the development and characterisation of new calibration standards for LA-ICP-MS analysis of various geological materials.

During the year, a new calibration standard (STDGL3) for the analysis of sulfide minerals was developed and its homogeneity tested. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) at 50 um spatial resolution were within 5% for Au and Pt, 7% for Se, and 3% for most other elements.

Work has commenced on assessing matrix-dependent fractionation when using STDGL3 for the analysis of sulfides. The chosen approach is to use pressed pellets of finely ground sulfide mixes (<5 micron) of known composition as proxies for sulfide crystals, which involves determining the correction factors that will be applied to quantified results based on STDGL3. Currently, the testing involves a range of nanosecond pulse width laser ablation systems: 193 nm excimer lasers with variable pulse widths, a 213 nm Nd:YAG laser, and a 248 nm excimer laser.

The focus was on quantifying fractionation between metals and sulfur, and between volatile and refractory metals (e.g., Zn, Cd, W relative to Fe).