Combining Ion Chromatography and Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence for Detection of Major, Minor and Trace Elements in Quartz-Hosted Fluid Inclusions

The crush-leach technique is a frequently used method to determine the bulk composition of fluid inclusions trapped in a range of geological samples. We present a modified crush-leach technique combining ion chromatography (IC) and total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (TXRF) which allows to determine a range of major, minor and trace elements out of one leachate. To date, trace element detection by means of TXRF is barely used in geosciences, although it combines the advantages of low to very low detection limits ([micro]g/L to ng/L range), small sample amount needed ([micro]L-range) and a fast and inexpensive analytical procedure. Previously described problems of adsorption of polyvalent cations at sample surfaces have been overcome by using acidified water as a leachate. Instead, it has been demonstrated that, for example, the syringe filter type used for IC measurements influences contamination and/or adsorption for a number of elements. The proposed method combination was evaluated for accuracy, reproducibility and system blanks and subsequently applied to quartz samples from hydrothermal vein deposits of the Schwarzwald ore district, SW Germany.
Author(s): Sara Ladenburger [sup.1], Benjamin F. Walter [sup.1], Michael A. W. Marks [sup.1], Gregor Markl [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.10392.39, 0000 0001 2190 1447, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, Universität Tübingen, , 72074, [...]