Ultra-low procedural blank and the single-grain mica Rb-Sr isochron dating.

Both low procedural blank and high-precision measurements of isotopic ratios are crucial for the analysis of micro samples. This study reports a chemical procedure of ultra-low blank for the high precision measurement of Sr isotopic ratios on micro samples (<1 ng level) using a new-type thermal ionization mass spectrometer IsoProbe-T, with a case study of single-grain Rb-Sr isochron dating on phlogopite from the Fuxian kimberlite in Liaoning Province. This method can be employed in studies of high resolution Rb-Sr geochronology and Sr isotopic geochemistry and thus will broaden application of the Rb-Sr isotopic system to earth sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]