Determination of rare-earth eleemnts in rock samples by neutron activation analysis

Abstract

A Ge(Li) detector combined with cation exchange separation has been used for the determination of 12 rare-earth elements (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) in rock samples by neutron activation analysis. After purification by the conventional hydroxide-fluoride precipitation, the rare-earth elements are separated into two fractions, light (La-Tb) and heavy (Ho-Lu), by EDTA cation exchange, and the γ-activities of the two fractions are measured by a Ge(Li) detector. The heavy rare-earths, such as Ho, Er, and Tm, can be easily γ-counted without serious interference from the intense Compton background and photopeaks due to the light rare-earths such as¹⁴⁰La,¹⁵³Sm,¹⁵²Eu, and¹⁶⁰Tb. The chemical yields (60%) for the individual rare-earths are determined by a reactivation technique. The results obtained for the U.S. Geological Survey standard rocks G-1 and W-1 are compared with the previously reported data.