Issue 11, 2021

Simultaneous determination of Sm–Nd isotopes, trace-element compositions and U–Pb ages of titanite using a laser-ablation split-stream technique with the addition of water vapor

Abstract

Titanite is a widespread accessory nesosilicate with high trace-element contents including rare-earth elements, Th, and U, and is thus suitable for in situ isotopic and trace-element analyses and U–Pb dating. Here we describe a laser-ablation split-stream technique for simultaneously determining Sm–Nd isotopes, trace-element compositions and U–Pb ages in titanite. A laser ablation system was connected to multi-collector (MC) and sector field (SF) inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) systems. The laser-ablated aerosol was split into two gas streams and transported simultaneously to the MC–ICP–MS system for Sm–Nd isotope analysis and to the SF–ICP–MS system for trace-element analysis and U–Pb dating. A small flow of water vapor was introduced to the gas stream after the LA chamber to improve the sensitivity of Nd (by 40%) on MC–ICP–MS and to maintain oxide yields at low levels for SF–ICP–MS trace-element analyses. Three well-constrained reference titanite standards (T3, OLT1, and Ontario) were analysed to evaluate precision and accuracy. Resulting Sm–Nd isotopic and trace-element compositions and U–Pb ages were consistent with recommended values. The method was applied in simultaneously determining Sm–Nd isotopes, trace-element compositions and U–Pb ages for titanite from the Manjinggou marble of the North China Craton.

Graphical abstract: Simultaneous determination of Sm–Nd isotopes, trace-element compositions and U–Pb ages of titanite using a laser-ablation split-stream technique with the addition of water vapor

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Technical Note
Submitted
13 Jul 2021
Accepted
22 Sep 2021
First published
23 Sep 2021

J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2021,36, 2312-2321

Simultaneous determination of Sm–Nd isotopes, trace-element compositions and U–Pb ages of titanite using a laser-ablation split-stream technique with the addition of water vapor

L. Zhang, J. Wu, Y. Zhang, Y. Yang, P. He, X. Xia and Z. Ren, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2021, 36, 2312 DOI: 10.1039/D1JA00246E

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