Open Access

Accurate measurements of stable isotope abundance ratio variations are often reported using artifact based delta-scales, which rely on suitable isotopic reference materials (iRM) for their realization. For example, variations in the 26Mg/24Mg isotope abundance ratio in natural systems are typically reported as delta26Mg values that represents the relative difference between the 26Mg/24Mg ratio measured in a sample relative to its measurement preferably in an iRM. In the past, such delta26Mg measurements were referenced to NIST SRM 980, the initial zero of the delta26Mg scale. With the development of MC-ICPMS, the detection of small but measurable isotopic differences in different chips of SRM 980 became apparent. It was then replaced by a Mg solution (DSM3), the new zero of the delta26Mg scale. A potential replacement iRM for DSM3 has been developed, ERM-AE143. This iRM has also been measured for its absolute isotope amount ratios1,2 making it traceable to the SI. The results of an delta26Mg intercomparison experiment include the Mg iRMs SRM 980, IRMM-009, ERM-AE143, AE144, AE145 standards DSM3 and Cambridge-1. The intercomparison involved 5 expert laboratories, consisting of 3 national metrological institutes (BAM, NIST, PTB) and 2 scientific research laboratories (GFZ Potsdam, UBremen). The iRMs were measured relative to AE143 and cover a range of ≈5 ‰ in delta26Mg. IRMM-009 has the lowest delta26Mg value while DSM3 has the highest, spanning a range in values that covers natural Mg isotope variations. The 2SD reproducibilities of the individual values from the different laboratories range from 0.02 to 0.26 ‰. The mean delta26Mg values, calculated from the laboratory means however show 2SD reproducibilities varing between 0.025 and 0.093 ‰. Propagated measurement uncertainties suggest a standard uncertainty of about 0.1‰ for delta26Mg determinations.

The isotopic composition of boron is a well established tool in various areas of Science and industries. Boron isotope compositions are typically reported as 6"B values which indicate the isotopic difference of a sample relative to the internationally accepted isotope reference material NIST SRM 951. A significant drawback of all of the available boron isotope reference materials is that non covers a natural boron isotope composition apart from NIST SRM 951.

The SuSu Knolls and DESMOS hydrothermal fields are located in the back-arc extensional transform zone of the Eastern Manus Basin. In 2006, highly acidic and ΣSO4-rich vent fluids were collected at both sites and analyzed for the chemical and isotopic composition of major and trace species. Fluids exiting the seafloor have measured temperatures from 48 to 215 °C and are milky white in appearance due to precipitation of elemental S0. Vent fluid concentrations of Na, K, and Mg are depleted by as much as 30% relative to seawater, but have the same relative abundance. In contrast, the fluids are highly enriched in dissolved ΣCO2, Cl, SiO2(aq), Fe, and Al relative to seawater. Measured pH (25 °C) ranged from 0.95 to 1.87 and aqueous ΣSO4 ranged from 35 to 135 mmol/kg. The chemical and isotopic composition points to formation via subsurface mixing of seawater with a Na-, K-, Mg-, and Ca-free, volatile-rich magmatic fluid exsolved from subsurface magma bodies during a process analogous to subaerial fumarole discharge. Estimates of the magmatic end-member composition indicate a fluid phase where H2O > SO2 > CO2 ≈ Cl > F. The hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of H2O and carbon isotopic composition of ΣCO2 in the vent fluids strongly suggest a contribution of slab-derived H2O and CO2 to melts generated in the mantle beneath the Eastern Manus volcanic zone. Abundant magmatically-derived SO2 undergoes disproportionation during cooling in upflow zones and contributes abundant acidity, SO42-, and S0 to the venting fluids. Interaction of these highly acidic fluids with highly altered mineral assemblages in the upflow zone are responsible for extensive aqueous mobilization of SiO2(aq), Fe, and Al. Temporal variability in the speciation and abundance of aqueous S species between 1995 and 2006 at the DESMOS vent field suggests an increase in the relative abundance of SO2 in the magmatic end-member that has mixed with seawater in the subsurface. Results of this study constrain processes responsible for the formation of hot-spring fluids in magmatically active back-arc environments and the resulting chemical exchange between the lithosphere and water column.

The strontium isotope composition of food samples has been successfully used to trace the provenance of both herbal and animal agricultural products. Adequately accurate and precise 87Sr/86Sr ratios, however, are key to unravel environmental and anthropogenic strontium contributions of specific growing areas. In a recently published analytical method in Food Chemistry by Choi et al. (2008) a demonstrably inadequate protocol for the determination of 87Sr/86Sr ratios of ginseng is presented. Based on well established geological and analytical fundamentals the 87Sr/86Sr ratios presented by Choi et al. (2008) are too inaccurate and imprecise to be used to trace the origin of the ginseng. Appropriate wet chemical separation techniques and mass spectrometric instrumentation enables the generation of 87Sr/86Sr data with very low expanded uncertainties (<0.05%, k = 2). Those high quality data allow the identification of even small strontium contributions of source reservoirs or physical and anthropogenic processes if diagnostic isotope compositions are present.