Abstract
Sulfide compositions with known Re, Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pt, and Pd contents are synthesized to be used as standards for noble metal analysis in solid solution in sulfides. Major elements were added as metals and elemental S. The noble metals, i.e. 35 and 60 ppm each, were added as solutions by micro syringe. Following synthesis at 1 atm the sulfides were sintered at 1.5 to 2 GPa to obtain pellets with theoretical density. Aliquots of the pellets were analysed by isotope dilution ICP-MS for bulk Re and platinum-group elements (PGE). The spatial noble metal distribution was investigated with an ArF excimer laser coupled to a single collector ICP mass spectrometer. Sample homogeneity is shown to depend on the metal/S spectrum and the major element composition of the sulfide, as well as on more subtle factors like oxygen partial pressure during synthesis, run temperature, and degree of partial melting. The most homogeneous sulfide composition is a (Fe,Ni)1 − x S monosulfide with 5 wt % Ni and 1-sigma variations in 34S-normalized noble metal count rates of <3.6%. Nearly as homogeneous is a pure Fe1 − x S monosulfide with 1-sigma variations in 34S-normalized noble metal count rates of <5.8 %. A Cu-bearing Fe1 − x S monosulfide with 2 wt % Cu was found to be considerably more heterogeneous, suggesting that Cu in solid solution in monosulfides promotes noble metal heterogeneity. The sulfide composition least suitable for the synthesis of noble metal sulfide standards is NiS.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alard O, Griffin WL, Lorand JP, Jackson SE, O’Reilly SY (2000) Non-chondritic distribution of the highly siderophile elements in mantle sulphides. Nature 407:891–894
Ballhaus C, Stumpfl EF (1986) Sulfide and platinum mineralization in the Merensky reef: evidence from hydrous silicates and fluid inclusions. Contrib Miner Petrol 94:193–204
Ballhaus C, Ryan CG (1995) Platinum-group elements in the Merensky reef. I. PGE in solid solution in base metal sulfides and the down-temperature equilibration history of Merensky ores. Contrib Miner Petrol 122:241–251
Ballhaus C, Ulmer P (1995) Platinum-group elements in the Merensky reef. 2. Experimental solubilities of platinum and palladium in Fe1-Xs from 950 to 450°C under controlled fS2 and fH2. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59:4881–4888
Ballhaus C, Sylvester P (2000) Noble metal enrichment processes in the Merensky reef, Bushveld complex. J Petrol 41:545–561
Ballhaus C, Tredoux M, Spaeth A (2001) Phase relations in the Fe–Ni–Cu–PGE–S system at magmatic temperature and application to massive sulfide ores of the Sudbury igneous complex. J Petrol 42:1911–1926
Ballhaus C, Bockrath C, Wohlgemuth-Ueberwasser C, Laurenz V, Berndt J (2006) Fractionation of the noble metals by physical processes. Contrib Mineral Petrol 152:667–684
Barnes SJ, Cox RA, Zientek ML (2006) Platinum-group element, gold, silver and base metal distribution in compositionally zoned sulfide droplets from the Medvezky creek mine, Noril’sk, Russia. Contrib Mineral Petrol 152:187–200
Bockrath C, Ballhaus C, Holzheid A (2004a) Fractionation of the platinum-group elements during mantle melting. Science 305:1951–1953
Bockrath C, Ballhaus C, Holzheid A (2004b) Stabilities of laurite RuS2 and monosulfide liquid solution at magmatic temperatures. Chem Geol 208:265–271
Cabri LJ, Sylvester PJ, Tubrett MN, Peregoedova A, Laflamme LHG (2003) Comparison of LAM-ICP-MS and Micro-PIXE results for palladium and rhodium in selected samples of Noril’sk and Talnakh sulfides. Can Mineral 41:321–329
Chenery S, Cook JM, Styles M, Cameron EM (1995) Determination of the three-dimensional distributions of precious metals in sulphide minerals by laser ablation microprobe-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LAMP-ICP-MS). Chem Geol 124:55–65
Date AR, Davis AE, Cheung YY (1987) The potential of fire assay and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the determination of platinum group elements in geological materials. Analyst 112:1217–1222
Eggins SM, Kinsley LPJ, Shelley JMG (1998) Deposition and element fractionation processes during atmosphere pressure laser sampling for analysis by ICP-MS. Appl Surf Sci 127–129:278–286
Etschmann B, Pring A, Putnis A, Grguric BA, Studer A (2004) A kinetic study of the exsolution of pentlandite (Ni,Fe)9S8 from the monosulfide solid solution (Fe,Ni)S. Am Mineral 89:39–50
Gervilla F, Kojonen K (2002) The platinum-group minerals in the upper section of the Keivitsansarvi Ni–Cu–PGE deposit, northern Finland. Can Mineral 40:377–394
Günther D, Heinrich CA (1999) Enhanced sensitivity in laser ablation-ICP mass spectrometry using helium–argon mixtures as aerosol carrier—Plenary lecture. J Anal At Spectr 14:1363–1368
Hassler DR, Peucker-Ehrenbrinck B, Ravizza GE (2000) Rapid determination of Os isotopic composition by sparging OsO4 into a magnetic-sector ICP-MS. Chem Geol 166:1–14
Helmy HM, Ballhaus C, Berndt J, Bockrath C, Wohlgemuth-Ueberwasser C (2007) Formation of Pt, Pd and Ni tellurides: experiments in sulfide-telluride systems. Contrib Mineral Petrol 153:493–624
Horn I, Guillong M, Günther D (2001) Wavelength dependent ablation rates for metals and silicate glasses using homogenized laser beam profiles—implications for LA-ICP-MS. Appl Surf Sci 183:91–102
Huminicki MAE, Sylvester PJ, Cabri LJ, Lesher CM, Tubrett M (2005) Quantitative mass balance of platinum group elements in the Kelly Lake Ni–Cu–PGE deposit Copper Cliff offset, Sudbury. Econ Geol 100:1631–1646
Jackson SE, Fryer BJ, Gosse W, Healey DC, Longerich HP, Strong DF (1990) Determination of precious metals in geological materials by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with nickel sulphide fire-assay collection and tellurium coprecipitation. In: Potts PJ, Dupuy C and Bowles JFW (Eds), Microanalytical methods in mineralogy and geochemistry. Chem Geol 83:119–132
Jarvis KE, Williams JG, Parry SJ, Bertalan E (1995) Quantitative determination of the platinum-group elements and gold using NiS fire assay with laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Chem Geol 124:37–46
Jorge AP de S, Enzweiler J, Shibuya E, Sarkis JES, Figueiredo AMG (1998) Platinum-group elements and gold determination in NiS fire assay buttons by UV laser ablation ICP-MS. Geostand Newsl 22:47–55
Lehner SW, Savage KS, Ayers JC (2006) Vapor growth and characterization of pyrite (FeS2) doped with Co, Ni, and As: variations in semiconducting properties. J Cryst Growth 286:306–317
Li C, Barnes SJ, Makovicky E, Rose-Hansen J, Makovicky M (1996) Partitioning of nickel, copper, iridium, rhenium, platinum, and palladium between monosulfide solid solution and sulfide liquid: effects of composition and temperature. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 60:1231–1238
McDonald I (2005) Development of sulphide standards for the in-situ analysis of platinum-group elements by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Abstract, 10th Intern Platinum Symp:468–471
Meisel T, Moser J, Fellner N, Wegscheider W, Schoenberg R (2001) Simplified method for the determination of Ru, Pd, Re, Os, Ir and Pt in chromitites and other geological materials by isotope dilution ICP-MS and acid digestion. Analyst 126:322–328
Meisel T, Fellner N, Moser J (2003) A simple procedure for the determination of platinum group elements and rhenium (Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir and Pt) using ID-ICP-MS with an inexpensive on-line matrix separation in geological and environmental materials. J Anal At Spectr 18:720–726
Miller JD, Li J, Davidtz JC, Vos F (2005) A review of pyrrhotite flotation chemistry in the processing of PGM ores. Miner Eng 18:855–865
Mungall JE, Andrews DRA, Cabri LJ, Sylvester PJ, Tubrett M (2005) Partitioning of Cu, Ni, Au, and platinum-group elements between monosulfide solid solution and sulfide melt under controlled oxygen and sulfur fugacities. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 69:4349–4360
Perkins WT, Pearce NJG, Westgate JA (1997) The development of laser ablation ICP-MS and calibration strategies: Examples from the analysis of trace elements in volcanic glass shards and sulfide minerals. Geostand Newsl 21:175–190
Shibuya EK, Sarkis JES, Enzweiler J, Jorge APS, Figueiredo AMG (1998) Determination of platinum group elements and gold in geological materials using an ultraviolet laser ablation high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. J Anal At Spectr 13:941–944
Sylvester PJ, Cabri LJ, Tubrett MN, McMahon, G, Laflamme JHG, Peregoedova A (2005) Synthesis and evaluation of a fused pyrrhotite standard reference material for platinum group element and gold analysis by laser ablation-ICPMS. Abstract, 10th Intern Platinum Symp, 16–20
Wilson SA, Ridley WI, Koenig AE (2002) Development of sulfide calibration standards for the laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. J Anal At Spectr 17:406–409
Yang XM, Lentz DR, Sylvester PJ (2006) Gold contents of sulfide minerals in granitoids from southwestern New Brunswick, Canada. Miner Dep 41:369–386
Acknowledgements
Financial support by the DFG to Chris Ballhaus (grant Ba 964/24-1) is gratefully acknowledged. The final manuscript has benefited from a thorough and insightful review by Paul Sylvester and an anonymous reviewer.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Jochen Hoefs.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wohlgemuth-Ueberwasser, C.C., Ballhaus, C., Berndt, J. et al. Synthesis of PGE sulfide standards for laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Contrib Mineral Petrol 154, 607–617 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-007-0212-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-007-0212-x