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High resolution multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-MC-ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of the isotopic composition and molar mass of a silicon crystal material (“Si28”) highly enriched in the

Improved measurements on silicon crystal samples highly enriched in the 28 Si isotope (known as 'Si28' or AVO28 crystal material) have been carried out at PTB to investigate local isotopic variations in the original crystal. This material was used for the determination of the Avogadro constant N A and therefore plays an important role in the upcoming redefinition of the SI units kilogram and mole, using fundamental constants.

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In this study, the U isotope composition, n((238)U)/n((235)U), of major components of the upper continental crust, including granitic rocks of different age and post-Archaean shales, as well as that of rivers (the major U source to the oceans) was investigated. Furthermore, U isotope fractionation during the removal of U at mid-ocean ridges, an important sink for U from the oceans, was investigated by the analyses of hydrothermal water samples (including low- and high-temperature fluids), low-temperature altered basalts and calcium carbonate veins. All analysed rock samples from the continental crust fall into a limited range of δ(238)U between -0.45 and -0.21 ‰ (relative to NBL CRM 112-A), with an average of -0.30 ± 0.15 ‰ (2 SD, N = 11). Despite differences in catchment lithologies, all major rivers define a relatively narrow range between -0.31 and -0.13 ‰, with a weighted mean isotope composition of -0.27 ‰, which is indistinguishable from the estimate for the upper continental crust (-0.30 ‰). Only some tributary rivers from the Swiss Alps display a slightly larger range in δ(238)U (-0.29 to +0.01 ‰) and lower U concentrations (0.87-3.08 nmol/kg) compared to the investigated major rivers (5.19-11.69 nmol/kg). These findings indicate that only minor net U isotope fractionation occurs during weathering and transport of material from the continental crust to the oceans. Altered basalts display moderately enriched U concentrations (by a factor of 3-18) compared to those typically observed for normal mid-ocean ridge basalts. These, and carbonate veins within altered basalts, show large U isotope fractionation towards both heavy and light U isotope compositions (ranging from -0.63 to +0.27 ‰). Hydrothermal water samples display low U concentrations (0.3-1 nmol/kg) and only limited variations in their U isotope composition (-0.43 ± 0.25 ‰) around the seawater value. Nevertheless, two of the investigated fluids display significantly lower δ(238)U (-0.55 and -0.59 ‰) than seawater (-0.38 ‰). These findings, together with the heavier U isotope composition observed for some altered basalts and carbonate veins support a model, in which redox processes mostly drive U isotope fractionation. This may result in a slightly heavier U isotope composition of U that is removed from seawater during hydrothermal seafloor alteration compared to that of seawater. Using the estimated isotope compositions of rivers and all U sinks from the ocean (of this study and the literature) for modelling of the isotopic U mass balance, this gives reasonable results for recent estimates of the oceanic U budget. It furthermore provides additional constraints on the relative size of the diverse U sinks and respective net isotope fractionation during U removal.

The continuous improvement of analytical procedures using multi‐collector technologies in ICP‐mass spectrometry has led to an increased demand for isotope standards with improved homogeneity and reduced measurement uncertainty. For magnesium, this has led to a variety of available standards with different quality levels ranging from artefact standards to isotope reference materials certified for absolute isotope ratios. This required an intercalibration of all standards and reference materials, which we present in this interlaboratory comparison study. The materials Cambridge1, DSM3, ERM‐AE143, ERM‐AE144, ERM‐AE145, IRMM‐009 and NIST SRM 980 were cross‐calibrated with expanded measurement uncertainties (95% confidence level) of less than 0.030‰ for the δ25/24Mg values and less than 0.037‰ for the δ26/24Mg values. Thus, comparability of all magnesium isotope delta (δ) measurements based on these standards and reference materials is established. Further, ERM‐AE143 anchors all magnesium δ‐scales to absolute isotope ratios and therefore establishes SI traceability, here traceability to the SI base unit mole. This applies especially to the DSM3 scale, which is proposed to be maintained. With ERM‐AE144 and ERM‐AE145, which are product and educt of a sublimation–condensation process, for the first time a set of isotope reference materials is available with a published value for the apparent triple isotope fractionation exponent θapp, the fractionation relationship ln α(25/24Mg)/ln α(26/24Mg).

For the first time, an ab initio calibration for absolute Mg isotope ratios was carried out, without making any a priori assumptions. All quantities influencing the calibration such as the purity of the enriched isotopes or liquid and solid densities were carefully analysed and their associated uncertainties were considered. A second unique aspect was the preparation of three sets of calibration solutions, which were applied to calibrate three multicollector ICPMS instruments by quantifying the correction factors for instrumental mass discrimination. Those fully calibrated mass spectrometers were then used to determine the absolute Mg isotope ratios in three candidate European Reference Materials (ERM)-AE143, -AE144 and -AE145, with ERM-AE143 becoming the new primary isotopic reference material for absolute isotope ratio and delta measurements. The isotope amount ratios of ERM-AE143 are n( 25 Mg)/n( 24 Mg) ¼ 0.126590(20) mol mol À1 and n( 26 Mg)/n( 24 Mg) ¼ 0.139362(43) mol mol À1 , with the resulting isotope amount fractions of x( 24 Mg) ¼ 0.789920(46) mol mol À1 , x( 25 Mg) ¼ 0.099996(14) mol mol À1 and x( 26 Mg) ¼ 0.110085(28) mol mol À1 and an atomic weight of A r (Mg) ¼ 24.305017(73); all uncertainties were stated for k ¼ 2. This isotopic composition is identical within uncertainties to those stated on the NIST SRM 980 certificate. The candidate materials ERM-AE144 and -AE145 are isotopically lighter than ERM-AE143 by À1.6& and À1.3&, respectively, concerning their n( 26 Mg)/n( 24 Mg) ratio. The relative combined standard uncertainties are #0.1& for the isotope ratio n( 25 Mg)/n( 24 Mg) and #0.15& for the isotope ratio n( 26 Mg)/ n( 24 Mg). In addition to characterizing the new isotopic reference materials, it was demonstrated that commonly used fractionation laws are invalid for correcting Mg isotope ratios in multicollector ICPMS as they result in a bias which is not covered by its associated uncertainty. Depending on their type, fractionation laws create a bias up to several per mil, with the exponential law showing the smallest bias between 0.1& and 0.7&.

Isotope mixtures for the ab initio-calibration of Mg isotope ratio measurements were prepared with unrivalled relative expanded uncertainties as low as 0.005%.