Chemical separation and isotopic variations of Cu and Zn from five geological reference materials

Abstract

This paper presents an adapted anion exchange column chemistry protocol which allowed separation of high-purity fractions of Cu and Zn from geological materials. Isobaric and non-spectral interferences were virtually eliminated for consequent multiple-collector ICP-MS analysis of the isotopic composition of these metals. The procedure achieved ∼ 100% recoveries, thus ensuring the absence of column-induced isotopic fractionation. By employing these techniques, we report isotopic analyses for Cu and Zn from five geological reference materials: BCR-027 blende ore (BCR), δ65Cu = 0.52 ± 0.15‰(n = 10) and δ66Zn = 0.33 ± 0.07% (n = 8); BCR-030 calcined calamine ore (BCR), δ66Zn = -0.06 ± 0.09‰ (n = 8); BCR-1 basalt (USGS), δ66Zn = 0.29 ± 0.12‰ (n = 8); NOD-P-1 manganese nodule (USGS), δ65Cu = 0.46 ± 0.08‰(n = 10) and δ66Zn = 0.78 ± 0.09‰(n = 9); SU-1 Cu-Co ore (CCRMP), δ65Cu = -0.018 ± 0.08‰(n = 10) and δ66Zn = 0.13 ± 0.17% (n = 6). All uncertainties are ± 2s; copper isotope ratios are reported relative to NIST SRM-976, and zinc isotope ratios relative to the Lyon-group Johnson Matthey metal (batch 3-0749 L) solution, JMC Zn. These values agree well with the limited data previously published, and with results reported for similar natural sample types. Samples were measured using a GVi IsoProbe MC-ICP-MS, based at the Natural History Museum, London. Long-term measurement reproducibility has been assessed by repeat analyses of both single element and complex matrix samples, and was commonly better than ± 0.07‰ for both δ 66Zn and δ65Cu.