Analysis of low levels of rare earths by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

A procedure for the radiochemical neutron activation analysis for the rare earth elements (REE) involves the separation of the REE as a group by rapid ion exchange methods and determination of yields by reactivation or by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The US Geological Surveys (USGS) standard rocks, BCR-1 and AGV-1, were analyzed to determine the precision and accuracy of the method. Authors found that the precision was +-5-10% on the basis of replicate analysis and that, in general the accuracy was within +-5% of accepted values for most REE. Data for USGS standard rocks BIR-1 (Icelandic basalt) and DNC-1 (North Carolina diabase) are also presented. (author)