Abstract
There are two main methods to determine boron isotopic composition. One is the solution method, in which boron is purified after the samples are dissolved in solution and the boron isotope ratios are determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (P-TIMS and N-TIMS) or multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The other is an in-situ analysis method, in which the in-situ boron isotopic ratios in minerals are analyzed directly using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) or laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). In the in-situ analysis method for boron isotopes, the multifarious chemical purification and separation processes of the solution method are avoided, with increased work efficiency. In addition, the microzones and microbeddings of minerals can be analyzed in-situ to reveal the fine processes and conditions of mineral formation. In this study, using the standard-sample-bracketing (SSB) method, mass bias of the instrument and the fractionation of isotopes were calibrated, and the in-situ determination method of LA-MC-ICP-MS for boron isotopes was established. Through detailed analyses on a series of boron isotope standards and samples, a matrix effect was assessed but not detected, and the analysis results were in accordance with the formerly reported values or P-TIMS determined values, within the error range. The analytical results for IAEA B4 and IMR RB1 with relatively high boron contents were δ 11B = −(8.36±0.58)‰ (2σ, n=50) and δ 11B = −(12.96±0.97)‰ (2σ, n=57), respectively; the analytical result for IAEA B6 with relatively low boron content was δ 11B = −(3.29±1.12)‰ (2σ, n=35). In-situ measurements for B isotopes were performed on geological samples such as tourmaline, ulexite, ludwigite, inyoite and ascharite, with the results consistent with those determined by P-TIMS, within the error range.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aggarwal J K, Palmer M R. Boron isotope analysis. Analyst, 1995, 120: 1301–1307
Jiang S Y. Boron isotope and its geological applications (in Chinese). Geol J Chin Univ, 2000, 6: 1–16
Palmer M R. Boron isotope systematics of hydrothermal fluids and tourmalines: a synthesis. Chem Geol, 1991, 94: 111–121
Palmer M R, Swihart G H. Boron isotope geochemistry: An overview. In: Grew E S, Anovitz L M, eds. Boron: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry. Mineral Soc Am, Washington Rev Mineral, 1996, 33: 709–744
Jiang S Y. Boron isotope geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits in China: A Preliminary Study. Phys Gem Earth (A), 2001, 26: 851–858
Jiang S Y, Palmer M R, Peng Q M, et al. Chemical and stable isotope (B, Si, and O) compositions of Proterozoic metamorphosed evaporite and associated tourmalines from the Houxianyu borate deposit, eastern Liaoning, China. Chem Geol, 1997, 135: 189–211
Jiang S Y, Palmer M R, Slack J F, et al. Boron isotope systematics of tourmaline formation in the Sullivan Pb-Zn-Ag deposit, British Columbia. Chem Geol, 1999, 158: 131–144
Jiang S Y, Palmer M R, Yeats C. Chemical and boron isotope compositions of tourmaline from the Archean Big Bell and Mount Gibson gold deposits, Murchison Province, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia. Chem Geol, 2002, 188: 229–247
Jiang S Y, Radvanec M, Nakamura E, et al. Chemical and boron isotopic variations of tourmaline in the Hnilec granite-related hydrothermal system, Slovakia: Constraints on magmatic and metamorphic fluid evolution. Lithos, 2008, 106: 1–11
Xiao R G, Takao O, Fei H C, et al. Sedimentary-metamorphic boron deposits and their boron isotopic compositions in eastern Liaoning Province (in Chinese). Geoscience, 2003, 17:137–142
Xiao Y K, Xiao J, Zhao Z Q, et al. The nonmarine environment of Quaternary fo-raminifers in Yanghuzhuang, China: Evidence from boron and strontium isotopes. Chinese Sci Bull, 2008, 53: 2200–2206
Spivack A J, Edmond J M. Boron isotope exchange between seawater and the oceanic crust. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1987, 51: 1033–1043
Xiao Y K, Beary E S, Fassett J D. An improved method for the high-precision isotopic measurement of boron by thermal ionization masses spectrometry. Int J Mass Spect Ion Proc, 1988, 85: 203–213
Vengosh A, Kolodny Y, Starinsky A, et al. Coprecipitation and isotopic fractionation of boron in modern biogenic carbonates. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1991, 55: 2901–2910
Leeman W P, Tonarini S. Boron isotopic analysis of proposed borosilicate mineral reference samples. Geostand Newslett, 2001, 25: 399–403
Hemming N G, Hanson G N. Boron isotopic composition and concentration in modern marine carbonates. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1992, 56: 537–543
Tonarini S, Pennisi M, Leeman W P. Precise boron isotopic analysis of complex silicate (rock) samples using alkali carbonate fusion and ion exchange separation. Chem Geol, 1997, 142: 129–137
Deyhle A, Kopf A. Deep fluids and ancient pore waters at the backstop: Stable isotope systematics (B, C, O) of mud volcano deposits on the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary wedge. Geology, 2001, 29: 1031–1034
Chaussidon M, Robert F, Mangin D, et al. Analytical procedures for the measurement of boron isotope compositions by ion microprobe in meteorites and mantle rocks. Geostand Newslett, 1997, 21: 7–17
Kobayashi K, Tanaka R, Moriguti T, et al. Lithium, boron and lead isotope systematics of glass inclusions in olivines from Hawaiian lavas: Evidence for recycled components in the Hawaiian plume. Chem Geol, 2004, 212: 143–161
le Roux P J, Shirey S B, Benton L, et al. In situ, multiple-multiplier, laser ablation ICP-MS measurement of boron isotopic composition (δ 11B) at the nanogram level. Chem Geol, 2004, 203: 123–138
Tiepolo M, Bouman C, Vannucci R, et al. Laser ablation multicollector ICP-MS determination of δ 11B in geological samples. Appl Geochem, 2006, 21: 788–801
Ishikawa T, Tera F. Source, composition and distribution of fluid in the Kurile mantle wedge: Constraints from across-arc variations of B/Nb and B isotopes. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 1997, 152: 123–138
Ishikawa T, Tera F, Nakazawa T. Boron isotope and trace element systematics of the three volcanic zones in the Kamchatka arc. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 2001, 65: 4523–4537
Kasemann S, Meixner A, Rocholl A, et al. Boron and oxygen isotope composition of certified reference materials NIST SRM 610/612 and certified reference materials JB-2 and JR-2. Geostand Newslett, 2001, 25: 405–416
Tonarini S, Pennisi M, Adorni-Braccesi A, et al. Intercomparison of boron isotope concentration measurements. Part I: Selection, preparation and homogeneity tests of the intercomparison materials. Geostand Newslett, 2003, 27: 21–39
Gonfiantini R, Tonarini S, Groning M, et al. Intercomparison of boron isotope and concentration measurements. Part II: evaluation of results. Geostand Newslett, 2003, 27: 41–57
Jackson S E, Günther D. The nature and sources of laser induced isotopic fractionation in laser ablation-multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. J Anal Atom Spectrom, 2003, 18: 205–212
Wang Q Z, Xiao Y K, Wang Y H, et al. Boron separation by the two-step ion-exchange for the isotopic measurement of boron. Chin J Chem, 2002, 20: 45–50
Zhu X K, Makishima A, Guo Y, et al. High precision measurement of titanium isotope ratios by plasma source mass spectrometry. Int J Mass Spect, 2002, 220: 321–329
Norman M D, McCulloch M T, O’Neill H St C, et al. Magnesium isotopic analysis of olivine by laser-ablation multi-collector ICP-MS: Composition dependent matrix effects and a comparison of the Earth and Moon. J Anal At Spect, 2006, 21: 50–54
Chaussidon M, Albarède F. Secular boron isotope variations in the continental crust: An ion microprobe study. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 1992, 108: 229–241
Chaussidon M, Jambon A. Boron content and isotopic composition of oceanic basalts: Geochemical and cosmochemical implications. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 1994, 121: 277–291
Chaussidon M, Marty B. Primitive boron isotope composition of the mantle. Science, 1995, 269: 383–386
Chaussidon M, Libourel G. Boron partitioning in the upper mantle: An experimental and ion probe study. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 1993, 57: 5053–5062
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Hou, K., Li, Y., Xiao, Y. et al. In situ boron isotope measurements of natural geological materials by LA-MC-ICP-MS. Chin. Sci. Bull. 55, 3305–3311 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-010-4064-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-010-4064-9