Search

To help understand bioapatite microstructures and related chemical variations, their impact on O‐isotope compositions measured and give insights on sample preparation, this study analysed conodonts and shark teeth prepared in different orientations through microanalytical and bulk sampling techniques: scanning electron microscopy (SEM); electron probe microanalysis (EPMA); continuous‐flow and high‐temperature reduction – isotope ratio mass spectrometry; and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The SEM and EPMA measurements in conodonts allowed to distinguish the tissues commonly analysed by SIMS, which included albid and hyaline crowns but given their often small‐scale intergrowth, mixtures of these are difficult to avoid. In situ SIMS O‐isotope analyses provided different δ18O values: lower values with higher variance (16 ± 1‰ n = 13, 15.7 ± 1.9‰ n = 11) for mixed albid‐hyaline tissues, and higher, homogeneous values (17.1 ± 0.2‰, n = 13) for mainly hyaline tissues. Recent shark teeth δ18OSIMS value for dentine of the same tooth was 10‰ lower than the mean δ18OSIMS value for enameloid whereas the δ18OPO4 values measured for enameloid and dentine using the HTR method were identical. The variation of δ18O seems sensitive to analytical artefacts related to sample textures, caused during the sample preparation over more porous biomineral surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer is an instrument suited to measuring sulfur isotopes in all types of samples, from ice cores and river waters to carbonates and Archaean rocks. Its main advantage is the more convenient method of sample preparation, as sulfate does not need to be reduced but purified from the sample through ion exchange. This method allows the measurement of unbiased and precise δ34S values from samples as small as 10‐nmol with a typical intermediate precision of 0.15‰ (2s) at 95% confidence. So far, no attempt has been made to understand at which levels of analytical precision and bias MC‐ICP‐MS could provide ∆33S values. Here, the first standard addition experiment undertaken for ∆33S evaluation shows that measurement results on a Neptune Plus MC‐ICP‐MS allows us to calculate ∆33S values identical to those established by other measurement principles, for samples down to 30 nmol S, with an intermediate precision as good as 0.05‰ (2s). Though this precision is not as good as the analytical precision of data acquired by the SF6 method, the advantages of small sample size and straightforward sample handling make it a very useful tool for investigating past and modern aspects of the sulfur cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonate clumped isotope, quantified by Δ47 value, has wide application potential in Earth science. A recently proposed carbonate standardisation scheme based on community‐available reference materials (i.e., ETH‐1–4) has proven to improve interlaboratory comparability in Δ47 measurement. However, the shortage of these reference materials may be problematic in future; therefore, developing traceable and supplementary in‐house reference materials may become necessary, especially when supplies run out. Here, we describe a method of producing synthetic witherite carbonates with variable bulk isotopic compositions and clumped isotope ordering states, for which Δ47 values were determined together with ETH carbonate reference materials. Results indicate that the witherite carbonates allow effective corrections for instrumental linearity and scale variations, improving long‐term reproducibility. Additionally, by normalising witherite Δ47 values to agreed ETH carbonate values on the Intercarb‐Carbon Dioxide Equilibrium Scale, the witherite reference materials can be used to determine Δ47 values without using equilibrated gases and reduce the consumption of ETH carbonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve apatite samples have been tested as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) reference materials. Laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) analysis shows that the SLAP, NUAN and GR40 apatite gems are internally homogeneous, with most trace element mass fractions having 2 standard deviations (2s) ≤ 2.0%. BR2, BR5, OL2, AFG2 and AFB1, which have U > 63 μg g‐1, 206Pb/204Pb > 283, and homogeneous SIMS U‐Pb data, have respective isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (ID‐TIMS) ages of 2053.83 ± 0.21 Ma, 2040.34 ± 0.09 Ma, 868.87 ± 0.25 Ma, 478.71 ± 0.22 Ma and 473.25 ± 0.09 Ma. Minor U‐Pb heterogeneity exists and accurate SIMS results require correction with the 3D Concordia‐constrained common Pb composition. Among the studied samples, AFG2 and BR5 are the most homogeneous U‐Pb reference materials. The SIMS sulfur isotopic compositions of eight of the apatites shows they are homogeneous, with 2s for both 103δ34S and 103δ33S < 0.55‰. One apatite, BR96, has Δ33S = ‐0.36 ± 0.2‰. The apatite samples have ID‐TIMS 87Sr/86Sr between 0.704214 ± 0.000030 and 0.723134 ± 0.000035. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zircon geochemistry can vary over micrometre scales; therefore, natural reference materials need to be well characterised before being used to calculate trace element mass fractions in unmeasured samples. Moreover, reference material homogeneity needs to be ensured with the accelerating rate of geoanalytical developments to map mineral chemistry at increasingly finer scales. Here, we investigate trace element zoning in four widely used zircon reference materials: 91500, Mud Tank, Temora and Plešovice, as well as zircon crystals from the Mount Dromedary/Gulaga Igneous Complex, Australia. Sub‐micrometre resolution focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB‐SEM) based time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) and 5 μm resolution LA‐ICP‐MS mapping show that trace elements are zoned in all reference materials, though 91500 exhibited the least zonation. We demonstrate that FIB‐SEM‐based ToF‐SIMS can rapidly resolve variations in trace elements (e.g., U, Th, Sc, Y, Gd, Dy, Yb and Li) at sensitivities down to the μg g‐1 level with a spatial resolution of 195 nm for areas 100 × 85 μm to 959 × 828 μm. Zircon 91500 is recommended for future quantitative analyses provided that (1) the spatial distribution of elements is imaged before analysis of unknown samples and (2) it is used in conjunction with a doped glass as the primary reference material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative in situ electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) was applied to determine the F, Cl, Nb and P contents of glass materials. Using reference glasses with low FeOT (< 10% m/m) mass fractions to construct a F calibration line to correct the Fe interference on the F peaks, is unsuitable for analysing natural Fe‐rich melt inclusions with up to 21% m/m FeOT, which commonly occur in picritic, nephelinitic and basanitic samples. For this reason, this study presents a series of seven F‐free glasses, which show a wider range of FeOT (1–20% m/m) that were synthesised to improve the overlap correction of Fe on F. Using this improved method, reference glasses of USGS and glasses synthesised from powders of other rock RMs were analysed to evaluate well‐known reference materials (RMs) as quality control materials for EPMA measurement of F, Cl, Nb and P mass fractions. The results show that amongst the tested RMs, USGS BHVO‐2G is the most appropriate RM for F‐Cl determination because different pieces of this glass RM analysed by different laboratories yielded results that agree within uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report on the oxygen isotope compositions of four proposed apatite reference materials (chlorapatite MGMH#133648 and fluorapatite specimens MGMH#128441A, MZ‐TH and ES‐MM). The samples were initially screened for 18O/16O homogeneity using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) followed by δ18O determinations in six gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometry laboratories (GS‐IRMS) using a variety of analytical protocols for determining either phosphate‐bonded or "bulk" oxygen compositions. We also report preliminary δ17O and Δ'17O data, major and trace element compositions collected using EPMA, as well as CO32− and OH− contents in the apatite structure assessed using thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The repeatability of our SIMS measurements was better than ± 0.25 ‰ (1s) for all four materials that cover a wide range of 103δ18O values between +5.8 and +21.7. The GS‐IRMS results show, however, a significant offset of 103δ18O values between the "phosphate" and "bulk" analyses that could not be correlated with chemical characteristics of the studied samples. Therefore, we provide two sets of working values specific to these two classes of analytical methodologies as well as current working values for SIMS data calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a method for high‐precision Si isotope measurement of soil and sediment reference materials using multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry with HF‐free digestion. Potential impacts on instrumental measurement, including acid concentration, Si concentration mismatch and matrix effects, were rigorously evaluated. The acidity mismatch caused a significantly negative shift in δ30Si values when the HCl concentration ratios of the sample/standard were higher than 2. The Si concentration mismatch could result in an obvious deviation in δ30Si values when the sample/standard concentration ratios are > 1.5 or < 0.7. Matrix elements in solution did not affect Si isotope measurements when Na/Si ≤ 2, Mg/Si ≤ 2, Al/Si ≤ 0.5, K/Si ≤ 2, Ca/Si ≤ 1 and Fe/Si ≤ 2. Increasing the loading volume from 1 ml to 6 ml during chemical separation can still enable effective purification of Si and is more efficient for low Si content samples. The long‐term measurement precision of three igneous rock reference materials (BHVO‐2, BCR‐2 and AGV‐2) was better than ± 0.06‰ (2s) for δ30Si values. The δ30Si values of eighteen soil and sediment reference materials were identical in two laboratories. The values varied from −1.65‰ to −0.13‰, indicating that Si isotopes can be more widely used to study supergene processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate ion microprobe analysis of oxygen isotope ratios in garnet requires appropriate reference materials to correct for instrumental mass fractionation that partly depends on the garnet chemistry (matrix effect). The matrix effect correlated with grossular, spessartine and andradite components was characterised for the Cameca IMS 1280HR at the SwissSIMS laboratory based on sixteen reference garnet samples. The correlations fit a second‐degree polynomial with maximum bias of ca. 4‰, 2‰ and 8‰, respectively. While the grossular composition range 0–25% is adequately covered by available reference materials, there is a paucity of them for intermediate compositions. We characterise three new garnet reference materials GRS2, GRS‐JH2 and CAP02 with a grossular content of 88.3 ± 1.2% (2s), 83.3 ± 0.8% and 32.5 ± 3.0%, respectively. Their micro scale homogeneity in oxygen isotope composition was evaluated by multiple SIMS sessions. The reference δ18O value was determined by CO2 laser fluorination (δ18OLF). GRS2 has δ18OLF = 8.01 ± 0.10‰ (2s) and repeatability within each SIMS session of 0.30–0.60‰ (2s), GRS‐JH2 has δ18OLF = 18.70 ± 0.08‰ and repeatability of 0.24–0.42‰ and CAP02 has δ18OLF = 4.64 ± 0.16‰ and repeatability of 0.40–0.46‰. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six tourmaline samples were investigated as potential reference materials (RMs) for boron isotope measurement by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The tourmaline samples are chemically homogeneous and cover a compositional range of tourmaline supergroup minerals (primarily Fe, Mg and Li end‐members). Additionally, they have homogeneous boron delta values with intermediate precision values during SIMS analyses of less than 0.6‰ (2s). These samples were compared with four established tourmaline RMs, that is, schorl IAEA‐B‐4 and three Harvard tourmalines (schorl HS#112566, dravite HS#108796 and elbaite HS#98144). They were re‐evaluated for their major element and boron delta values using the same measurement procedure as the new tourmaline samples investigated. A discrepancy of about 1.5‰ in δ11B was found between the previously published reference values for established RMs and the values determined in this study. Significant instrumental mass fractionation (IMF) of up to 8‰ in δ11B was observed for schorl–dravite–elbaite solid solutions during SIMS analysis. Using the new reference values determined in this study, the IMF of the ten tourmaline samples can be modelled by a linear combination of the chemical parameters FeO + MnO, SiO2 and F. The new tourmaline RMs, together with the four established RMs, extend the boron isotope analysis of tourmaline towards the Mg‐ and Al‐rich compositional range. Consequently, the in situ boron isotope ratio of many natural tourmalines can now be determined with an uncertainty of less than 0.8‰ (2s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) requires matrix‐matched reference materials to calibrate mass fractionation during oxygen isotope measurement. Over one thousand SIMS oxygen isotope measurements were conducted on eleven natural mineral samples (five olivines, three clinopyroxenes and three orthopyroxenes) in nineteen sessions using CAMECA IMS 1280 SIMS instruments to evaluate their potential as SIMS reference materials. The obtained results reveal oxygen isotope homogeneity of these samples. No matrix effect was measured for the same variety of mineral samples with limited Mg‐number variations (89.6–94.2, 90–91.9 and 90.1–92.1 for olivine, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene, respectively). The recommended oxygen isotope compositions of these samples were determined using laser fluorination. These samples are therefore suitable to be used as reference materials for in situ oxygen isotope microanalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new natural white mica reference materials (RMs) were developed for in situ H2O content analyses by secondary ion mass spectrometry at the SwissSIMS laboratory of Lausanne University, Switzerland. The white mica reference materials cover a large part of the natural muscovite–phengite compositional range and are therefore suitable as reference materials for the analysis of natural rocks as well as individual minerals. The independent H2O content of the reference materials UNIL_WM1 to UNIL_WM5 was obtained by thermal conversion elemental analyser and corresponds to 4.35 ± 0.02, 4.33 ± 0.03, 4.30 ± 0.07, 4.50 ± 0.02 and 4.42 ± 0.11 (% m/m, ± 1s), respectively. SIMS determinations of H2O content revealed a matrix effect correlated to the FeO content of white mica. The compositional range in FeO of the reference materials that were calibrated for H2O determination is from 1.13% to 3.67% m/m. No crystallographic orientation dependency was observed at the level of homogeneity of these reference materials. An analytical precision of 0.02% to 0.08% m/m (1SE) is expected for the final uncertainty on measurements of unknown white micas in natural samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates that significant matrix‐dependent bias occurs during the measurement of Li mass fractions by SIMS in silicate glasses. This bias is particularly evident for basaltic and ultramafic samples, where published SIMS data of reference materials show discrepancies up to 40% compared with other measurement techniques. Matrix effects can be successfully corrected by taking into account the SiO2 content of the analysed material. New matrix‐corrected SIMS data for a suite of silicate glass reference materials are presented (glasses from MPI‐DING, USGS, Smithsonian and NIST, with a range of 46–76 g per 100 g SiO2), which are on average within 4% of preferred values (PV) as published in the GeoReM database. As several PV for Li in GeoReM are biased by the inclusion of inaccurate SIMS data, updated reference values are proposed that include the new SIMS dataset presented here. Key Points: Significant matrix effects occur during SIMS analysis of Li contents of silicate glasses, which has affected SIMS data compiled in GeoReM. A correction procedure is presented which effectively removes matrix bias. New Preferred Values for Li are proposed for MPI‐DING and USGS glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five biotite reference materials (RMs) currently used for oxygen isotope measurements at the SwissSIMS laboratory (University of Lausanne) were investigated for their H2O, F and Cl contents using secondary ion mass spectrometry in negative mode. The homogeneity of these RMs, as well as that of the international reference material NBS30, was tested by exploiting the high sensitivity of the SIMS technique. No crystal orientation dependency was discovered at the level of the homogeneity of the RMs. Normalisation schemes with 28Si−, 30Si−16O− and 18O− were explored. A matrix effect is documented here for H2O measurements, which depended on SiO2 and XMg compositions of the different biotite RMs. A successful multivariate fit was obtained that reproduces the H2O content of the six biotite RMs, this within error of 0.15% m/m and with a reduced χ2 (or MSWD) of 0.672. Fluorine and Cl contents were calibrated using a linear fit for F content between 0% and 4% m/m and Cl content below 0.3% m/m. Accuracy for H2O measurements is expected to be 3–4% (1SE). Accuracy for F content was about 3% (1s) and typically about 15% (1s) for Cl content. Key Points: Biotite reference materials are available for H2O, F and Cl content measurements by SIMS.No crystal orientation effect was found for 16O1H−/16O−, 19F−/16O− or 35Cl−/18O−.Linear correlation for 19F−/16O− and 35Cl−/18O−ratios and reference values for the reference materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first investigation of in situ oxygen isotopes in serpentine minerals by sensitive high‐resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP). Chemically homogeneous samples of antigorite (δ18O = 8.30 ± 0.12‰), chrysotile (δ18O = 4.37 ± 0.02‰) and lizardite (δ18O = 5.26 ± 0.20‰) analysed by laser fluorination are identified as potential reference materials. They were analysed by SHRIMP to assess their homogeneity compared with the San Carlos olivine, as well as for potential matrix bias and crystal orientation effects. The reproducibility achieved for all samples was ± 0.30–0.55‰ (95% confidence level). Matrix bias between antigorite/olivine and antigorite/lizardite was up to ~ +3‰ and −1‰, respectively. Crystal orientation effects were identified only in chrysotile, and no matrix bias was observed over the investigated compositional range within each serpentine mineral. The new reference materials were used to measure the oxygen isotope composition of serpentines in an ultrahigh‐pressure metamorphic belt from Tianshan (China). By combining oxygen isotopes and trace element microanalyses, several stages of serpentinisation were recognised: (a) seafloor alteration, (b) recycling of internal metamorphic fluids during isothermal decompression and (c) shallow interaction with meteoric water during exhumation. No interaction with fluids derived from the surrounding metapelites during subduction was identified. Key Points: We developed the first serpentine reference materials for precise and accurate in situ oxygen isotope determination by ion microprobe.Matrix bias effects up to +3‰ and ‐1‰ were observed between antigorite/olivine and antigorite/lizardite.Crystal orientation effects up to 1‰ were observed only in chrysotile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a method for quantifying the in situ heterogeneity of solid materials at the picogram test portion scale, illustrating its use by investigating the oxygen isotope ratio (18O−/16O−) of four quartz samples. Using secondary ion mass spectrometry, we could estimate the intrinsic heterogeneity using a large number (~ 100) of closely spaced duplicated measurements. An analysis of variance was then applied to these large data sets to extract the measurement repeatability (typically 0.10–0.15‰, 1s) from the total variability, thereby revealing a variability ranging from 0.18‰ to 2.3‰, which can be attributed to the genuine isotope ratio heterogeneities. A small proportion of outlying values were either rejected manually after inspection, or were accommodated using robust statistics. We also evaluated two distinct approaches for estimating and correcting instrumental drift; the use of a sub‐area of the test material (if shown to have sufficiently low heterogeneity) is judged to be preferable to using a piece of unrelated silicate glass that we believe to be homogeneous. We also compared three approaches for estimating measurement repeatability, from which we show that the ‘duplicate method’ applied to the reference material is preferable to using other methods based either on the drift monitoring material or on assessing residuals of the drift monitoring material after drift correction. Finally, here we propose a strategy for predicting the number of measurements on individual fragments of a material that would be required to achieve a specified target uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the effects of cation composition on mass bias (i.e., the matrix effect), which is a major component of instrumental mass fractionation (IMF) in the microanalyses of δ13C and δ18O by SIMS in carbonates of the magnesite–siderite solid‐solution series (MgCO3–FeCO3). A suite of twelve calibration reference materials (RMs) was developed and documented (calibrated range: Fe# = 0.002–0.997, where Fe# = molar Fe/[Mg + Fe]), along with empirical expressions for regressing calibration data (affording residuals < 0.5‰ relative to certified reference material NIST‐19). The calibration curves of both isotope systems are non‐linear and have, over a 2‐year period, fallen into one of two distinct but largely self‐consistent shape categories (data from ten measurement sessions), despite adherence to well‐established analytical protocols for carbonate δ13C and δ18O analyses at WiscSIMS (CAMECA IMS 1280). Mass bias was consistently most sensitive to changes in composition near the magnesite end‐member (Fe# 0–0.2), deviating by up to 4.5‰ (δ13C) and 14‰ (δ18O) with increasing Fe content. The cause of variability in calibration curve shapes is not well understood at present and demonstrates the importance of having available a sufficient number of well‐characterised RMs so that potential complexities of curvature can be adequately delineated and accounted for on a session‐by‐session basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new biotite reference materials were calibrated at the Swiss SIMS laboratory (University of Lausanne) for oxygen isotope determination by secondary ion mass spectrometry ( SIMS) and are available to the scientific community. The oxygen isotope composition of the biotites, UNIL_B1 to B5, was determined by laser-heating fluorination to be 11.4 ± 0.11‰, 8.6 ± 0.15‰, 6.1 ± 0.04‰, 7.1 ± 0.05‰ and 7.6 ± 0.04‰, respectively. SIMS analyses on spots smaller than 20 μm gave a measurement repeatability of 0.3‰ (2 standard deviation, 2 s). The matrix effect due to solid solution in natural biotite could be expressed as a linear function of XMg and XF for biotite. No effect was found for different crystallographic orientations. SIMS analysis allows the oxygen isotope composition of biotite to be measured with a measurement uncertainty of 0.3-0.4‰ (2 s) for biotites with similar major element compositions. A measurement uncertainty of 0.5‰ (2 s) is realistic when F poor biotites (lower than 0.2% m/m oxides) within the compositional range of XMg of 0.3-0.9 were compared from different sessions. The linear correlation with F content offers a reasonable working curve for F-rich biotites, but additional reference materials are needed to confirm the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two quartz samples of igneous origin, UNIL-Q1 (Torres del Paine Intrusion, Chile) and BGI-Q1 (Shandong province, China), were calibrated for their oxygen isotope composition for SIMS measurements. UNIL-Q1 and BGI-Q1 were evaluated for homogeneity using SIMS. Their reference δ18O values were determined by CO2 laser fluorination. The average δ18O value found for UNIL-Q1 is 9.8 ± 0.06‰ and that for BGI-Q1 is 7.7 ± 0.11‰ (1 s). The intermediate measurement precision of SIMS oxygen isotope measurements was 0.32-0.41‰ (2 s; UNIL-Q1) and 0.40-0.48‰ (2 s; BGI-Q1), respectively. While less homogeneous in its oxygen isotope composition, BGI-Q1 is also suitable for SIMS trace element measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Nano SIMS ion probe is a new-generation SIMS instrument, characterised by superior spatial resolution, high sensitivity and multi-collection capability. Isotope studies of certain elements can be conducted with 50-100 nm resolution, making the Nano SIMS an indispensable tool in many research fields. We review technical aspects of the Nano SIMS ion probe and present examples of applications in cosmochemistry and biological geochemistry. This includes isotope studies of presolar (stardust) grains from primitive meteorites and of extraterrestrial organics, the search for extinct radioactive nuclides in meteoritic materials, the study of lunar samples, as well as applications in environmental microbiology, cell biology, plant and soil science, and biomineralisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This review gives an overview of the literature on reference materials of geochemical and environmental interest for the two-year period 2008-2009. Reference materials play an increasingly important role in all fields of geoanalytical research. This is demonstrated by the large number of publications containing data on reference materials. Although many reference materials exist, there is still a great need for certified samples, so-called delta zero materials for stable isotopic work and homogeneous microanalytical reference materials. This review focuses on six topics: developments of certification processes of reference materials mainly postulated in ISO guidelines and the IAG protocol, new developments of the GeoReM database, investigations of powdered rock reference materials, Chinese reference materials published in Chinese journals, microanalytical reference materials and isotopic reference materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Geostandards & Geoanalytical Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)