Sample preparation and chromatographic separation for Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope analysis in geological, environmental, and archaeological samples

Abstract

In countless modern geochemical studies, diverse biological and geologic samples are analyzed for Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic composition. Such heterogeneity presents challenges for a "one-size-fits-all" approach to sample preparation, necessitating customization of sample preparation and chromatographic separation methods. We present (1) digestion techniques for low-Nd silicates, carbonatites, carbonates, water, plant and wood material, organic soils, aerosols collected via filtration, as well as archaeological samples (alloys, teeth, and bones) (2) a column chromatographic approach for samples with low concentrations (large amounts of a matrix) and (3) method verification via replicate analyses of a wide variety of isotopic standards.

Sizeable net export of base cations from a Carpathian flysch catchment indicates their geogenic origin while the 26Mg/24Mg, 44Ca/40Ca and 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios in runoff are indistinguishable from atmospheric input

“…Separation of Ca was carried out using the methodology described by Holmden ( 2005 ) and Holmden and Belanger ( 2010 ). Strontium processing was performed according to Erban Kochergina et al ( 2022 ).…”

“…Details are in Pokharel et al ( 2017 ). The Ca and Sr isotope ratio measurements were conducted using a Triton Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS; Thermo Scientific ) using the methods described by Holmden and Belanger ( 2010 ) and Erban Kochergina et al ( 2022 ), respectively.…”

Atomic spectrometry update – a review of advances in environmental analysis

“…Digestion procedures for soils and plants included that of Kochergina et al 112 who combined matrix-specific acid digestion protocols and appropriate column chemistry for the determination of Nd, Pb and Sr in a broad range of environmental and archaeological materials including low-Nd silicates, carbonates, carbonatites, organic soil, plants, water, wood, alloys, bones and teeth. Analytes were determined by TIMS (Nd and Sr) or MC ICP-MS (Pb).…”

Interactions between distal epiclastic and bio‐chemogenic sedimentation at the foothills of a mafic alkaline volcano: The case of the Oligocene Doupovské Hory Volcanic Complex (Czech Republic)

“…Doubly distilled acids were used for the Sr separation procedure and 18.2 MΩ•cm Milli-Q water was used throughout. Additional details of the sample preparation procedure are described in Erban Kochergina et al (2021Kochergina et al ( , 2022. For each sample, about 100 mg of powdered carbonate rock was dissolved in 6 M HCl in Savillex® vials, water samples were evaporated to dryness and then dissolved in a H 2 O 2 and HNO 3 mixture (Erban Kochergina et al, 2021).…”

“…The Sr.spec resin (Triskem Intl.) was employed for final purification of the Sr fraction (Erban Kochergina et al, 2022). Strontium isotope analyses were performed on a Triton Plus TIMS, using a single Ta filament assembly.…”