The Preparation and Characteristics of the Geochemical Certified Reference Material BEM (Emeishan Basalt)

A basaltic certified reference material BEM, prepared by Chengdu University of Technology, has recently been approved as a Primary Grade Reference Material (GBW07126) by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China. BEM was sampled from the Emeishan Basalts in China, which is one of the largest basalt provinces in the world. After successfully completing homogeneity and stability tests, collaborative analyses were carried out in seventeen Chinese institutes and laboratories and two American laboratories. More than ten reliable analytical methods based on different principles of measurement were adopted, of which ICP-MS, NAA and ICP-AES contributed 60.5% of all results. Fifty-four elements and oxide components were characterised as certified values, four elements as recommended values and nine elements as information values. A minimum sampling mass of 40 mg for most elements is recommended for use.