Improved in situ Hf isotope ratio analysis of zircon using newly designed X skimmer cone and jet sample cone in combination with the addition of nitrogen by laser ablation multiple collector ICP-MS

The effect of three different cone combinations on the performance of laser ablation MC-ICP-MS (Neptune plus) for the in situ Hf isotope analysis of zircon were investigated. The signal sensitivities of Hf, Yb and Lu were improved by a factor of 1.4 and 2.5, respectively, with using the X skimmer cone + standard sampler cone and the X skimmer cone + Jet sample cone compared to the standard arrangement (H skimmer cone + standard sample cone). However, when using the high-sensitivity Jet sample cone, the instrumental mass fractionation for hafnium displayed a large non-linear component that could not be corrected using the normal mass fractionation laws. The magnitude of this non-linear mass fractionation was…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China
• SA
  State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs
• PF
  Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University