The potential of fire assay and inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometry for the determination of platinum group elements in geological materials

Abstract

Preliminary work on the application of fire assay and inductively coupled plasma source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to the determination of platinum-group elements (PGEs) in geological materials is described. A combination of the neo-classical nickel sulphide fire assay collection procedure with final determination by ICP-MS is considered in relation to the simplified procedure required for dissolution of the nickel sulphide “button” and the wealth of information inherent in ICP-MS spectra. The method was applied to the determination of five PGEs and gold in the South African standard reference material PTO-1 (now known as SARM-7) and the Canadian standard reference material PTC-1. Isotope dilution analysis was applied to the determination of platinum.