A simple method for obtaining highly accurate Pb isotope data by MC-ICP-MS

Abstract

Many recent studies of isotope ratio determination by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) have highlighted the excellent levels of analytical precision obtainable using this newly emergent technology. Unfortunately, it is often a considerably more difficult matter to obtain highly accurate analyses by MC-ICP-MS. This is particularly the case for isotope systems in which internal normalisation for instrumental mass bias effects is not possible, e.g., Pb, Cu, Zn, B, Li. Given the fact that extremely accurate Pb isotope data can now be obtained by double-spike thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS), this is seemingly a major impediment to the widespread..