Oxygen Isotope Analyses of Biogenic Opal and Quartz using a novel Microfluorination Technique
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2013
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.6642
Abstract
Rationale: Measuring δ18O values in silicates is difficult and hazardous in comparison with measurements of carbonate minerals due to the difficulty in breaking Si–O–Si bonds. A novel method for measurement of δ18O values from quartz and biogenic silica utilizing high‐temperature pyrolysis with continuous‐flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry (CF‐IRMS) is presented.
Methods: Samples were prepared by offline dehydroxylation/dehydration under vacuum at 1060°C. The dehydroxylated samples are mixed with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) powder (2.3:1 PTFE/Si) and graphite in silver foil capsules and reacted in a vario PYRO cube TC/EA system in a glassy carbon reaction tube. Quartz and biogenic opal samples react with available carbon in a microfluorination environment upon decomposition of the PTFE, producing CO for analysis via CF‐IRMS.
Results: Silicate samples reacted quantitatively, producing data with yields ≥88% from ~400 µg samples. Multiple analyses with international standards demonstrated accuracy for replicate measurements (1σ range ±0.3–0.6‰), comparing favorably with previously published techniques.
Conclusions: New data produced with the microfluorination technique are comparable with data from studies using existing methodologies. The microfluorination technique has the potential to greatly increase the number of laboratories producing silicate oxygen isotope data for mineralogic, paleoclimatic and biogeochemical applications.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
No
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, v. 27, issue 16, p. 1873-1881
Scholar Commons Citation
Menicucci, Anthony J.; Matthews, Joy A.; and Spero, Howard J., "Oxygen Isotope Analyses of Biogenic Opal and Quartz using a novel Microfluorination Technique" (2013). School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications. 1801.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/1801
