Determination of Rare Earth Elements in Rock-Forming Clinopyroxenes Using NexION 300S Mass Spectrometer with NWR 213 Laser Ablation System

The determination of rare earth elements (REE) with a high (tens of microns) locality and low detection limits (up to 0.01-0.1 ppm) in rock-forming minerals, in particular pyroxenes, is a rather complex methodological task. The comparison of the analytical data for minerals with low REE content obtained using high-sensitive single-collector mass spectrometers and excimer 193 nm laser ablation systems with those obtained using more common and relatively cheap quadrupole mass spectrometers and conventional solid-state 213 and 266 nm laser ablation systems remains relevant. The determination of REE content in clinopyroxenes from clinopyroxenite of the Nizhny Tagil massif (Platinum belt, the Urals) using the optimized operational parameters of quadrupole NexION 300S mass spectrometer with the NWR 213 laser ablation system was carried out in the laboratory of the Institute of Geology and Geochemistry; the reached REE concentration detection limit was 0.01 ppm. Our results obtained for clinopyroxenes were found to be in good agreement with those obtained using the Agilent 7500S mass spectrometer with the MicroLas GeoLas Q-plus 193 nm ArF excimer laser ablation system (Kanazawa University, Japan). Our methodological work will be continued in order to reduce the REE detection limits.