ND70 series basaltic glass reference materials for volatile element (H2O, CO2, S, Cl, F) analysis and the C ionisation efficiency suppression effect of water in silicate glasses in SIMS analysis.

We present a new set of reference material, the ND70-series, for in situ analysis of volatile elements (H2O, CO2, S, Cl, F) in silicate glass of basaltic composition. Samples have been synthesised in piston cylinders at pressures of 1 to 1.5 GPa at volatile-undersaturated conditions. They span concentrations from 0 to 6 wt.% H2O, from 0 to 1.6 wt.% CO2 and from 0 to 1 wt.% S, Cl and F. The samples have been characterised by Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (ERDA) for H2O, by Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA) for CO2, by Elemental Analyser (EA) for CO2, by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for H2O and CO2, by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) for H2O, CO2, S, Cl and F, and by Electron Microprobe (EMP) for CO2, S, Cl, and major elements. Comparison between expected and measured volatile amounts across techniques and institutions is excellent. It was found however that SIMS analyses of CO2 concentrations using either Cs+ or O– primary beams are strongly affected by the glass H2O content. Reference materials are being distributed at Ion probe facilities in the US, Europe and Japan. Remaining reference materials will be deposited at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where they will be freely available on loan to any researcher.