REE-2 Certificate of Analysis

Certified Reference Material: Carbonatite with Rare Earth Elements

Printable version of the certificate (PDF, 409.27 kb)

First issued: January 2016
Version: January 2016

Table 1 – REE-2 Certified Values

Analyte	Units	Mean	Within-lab Standard Deviation	Between-labs Standard Deviation	95% Confidence Interval of Mean
Al a	%	0.761	0.015	0.049	0.020
Ba b	%	5.02	0.08	0.29	0.15
Ca a	%	13.68	0.16	0.37	0.16
Ce a	µg/g	9610	140	360	160
Co a	µg/g	7.71	0.31	0.51	0.27
Dy a	µg/g	69.2	1.4	1.6	0.8
Er a	µg/g	14.0	0.4	1.6	2.1
Eu a	µg/g	96.6	1.7	5.8	2.5
Fe a	%	12.14	0.17	0.42	0.17
Ho a	µg/g	7.87	0.20	0.56	0.25
La (total) b	µg/g	5130	80	110	50
Li a	µg/g	9.61	0.54	0.59	0.43
Loss on ignition c	%	31.38	0.07	0.19	0.11
Mg (total) b	%	6.26	0.06	0.21	0.10
Mn (total) b	%	1.316	0.015	0.051	0.024
Nd a	µg/g	3660	60	170	70
P a	%	0.461	0.006	0.024	0.011
Pr a	µg/g	1075	22	52	26
Rb a	µg/g	1.22	0.17	0.24	0.13
S(total) d	%	1.745	0.041	0.092	0.057
Sc a	µg/g	57.5	1.1	3.6	2.0
Si (total) b	%	1.377	0.020	0.053	0.030
Sm a	µg/g	410	6	16	7
Sn a	µg/g	24.1	1.0	3.3	1.5
Sr a	µg/g	2300	40	210	80
Ta a	µg/g	1.17	0.11	0.25	0.15
Tb a	µg/g	20.3	0.4	1.4	0.7
Th a	µg/g	737	12	34	14
Ti b	%	0.1969	0.0048	0.0096	0.0049
Tm a	µg/g	1.383	0.042	0.044	0.022
U a	µg/g	3.73	0.13	0.27	0.12
W a	µg/g	9.9	0.6	1.3	0.9
Y a	µg/g	176	3	13	6

a The data generally includes sets by digestion using four acids (hydrochloric, nitric, hydrofluoric and perchloric); various fusions; and for some elements, fused pellet, fusion or pressed powder pellet followed by x-ray fluorescence; and instrumental neutron activation analysis.
b The data generally includes sets by various fusions, and fused pellet or fusion followed by x-ray fluorescence.
c The data is based on samples of 0.8 to 2 grams ignited for 0.5 to 4 hours at 650 to 1050°C.
d The data generally includes sets by combustion followed by infrared spectroscopy and various fusions.

Table 2 – REE-2 Provisional Values

Analyte	Units	Mean	Within-lab Standard Deviation	Between-labs Standard Deviation	95% Confidence Interval of Mean
Be a, b	µg/g	3.31	0.14	0.14	0.13
Bi c	µg/g	2.00	0.10	0.39	0.22
C d	%	9.06	0.06	0.26	0.17
Cd	µg/g	1.11	0.10	0.24	0.19
Cr (total) e	µg/g	32.7	1.3	8.7	7.3
Cu (AD) a, f, g	µg/g	5.55	0.44	0.44	0.27
Gd b	µg/g	219	4	21	10
Hf b, c	µg/g	0.95	0.39	0.39	0.17
In b	µg/g	1.403	0.055	0.063	0.056
K b	%	0.0172	0.0021	0.0050	0.0040
Lu b	µg/g	0.92	0.03	0.16	0.07
Mo	µg/g	154	3	13	6
Na b, c	%	0.120	0.008	0.025	0.013
Nb b	µg/g	1060	30	130	60
Ni (AD) a, f	µg/g	8.99	0.28	0.70	0.75
Ni (total) a, e	µg/g	13.1	1.6	2.7	2.4
Pb c	µg/g	40.8	3.2	9.6	4.3
Sb b, c	µg/g	0.89	0.06	0.14	0.09
Tl b	µg/g	0.240	0.009	0.036	0.028
V (total) e	µg/g	79	2	16	8
Yb b	µg/g	7.2	0.2	1.0	0.5
Zn (AD) f	µg/g	369	13	47	34
Zn (total) e	µg/g	420	11	62	38
Zr (total) e	µg/g	32.2	3.2	7.9	4.3

a Statistical analysis of the data warrants classification as provisional despite only 6 or 7 sets of data.
b Tthe data generally includes sets by digestion using four acids (hydrochloric, nitric, hydrofluoric and perchloric), various fusions and; for some elements, fused pellet, fusion or pressed powder pellet followed by x-ray fluorescence.
c Data fulfills the conditions for certified but the element was reclassified as provisional since the between-laboratories standard deviation is 15% or more of the mean; and/or a considerable amount of data consists of one significant figure.
d The data was generally obtained from a combustion infrared apparatus.
e The data generally includes sets by various fusions; and for some elements, fused pellet, fusion or pressed powder pellet followed by x-ray fluorescence.
f The data includes digestion using two acids (nitric and hydrochloric) and four acids.
g The data for copper using acid digestions appears to yield a lower value than that by fusion. However, due to lack of agreement, it was not possible to assign a total value.
However, due to lack of agreement, it was not possible to assign a total value.

Table 3 – REE-2 Indicative Values (semi-quantitative only)

Analyte	Units	Mean	No. accepted laboratories / values
Ag	µg/g	1	5 / 25
Cr (AD4) a	µg/g	14	5 / 25
Cs b	µg/g	0.09	7 / 35
Ga a	µg/g	60	3 / 15
Ge b	µg/g	7	5 / 35
La (AD4) a	µg/g	4600	4 / 20
Mg (AD4) a	%	5.7	5 / 25
Mn (AD4) a	%	1.1	5 / 25
Moisture c	%	0.4	13 / 65
S (AD4) a	%	0.7	3 / 15
V (AD4) a	µg/g	60	4 / 20
Zr (AD4) a	µg/g	20	4 / 20

a The data includes sets by digestion using four acids (hydrochloric, nitric, hydrofluoric and perchloric) only.
b The data includes sets by digestion using four acids and various fusions.
c The data was obtained from samples of 0.8 to 2 grams dried for 0.5 to 4 hours at 105°C.

Source

REE-2 is a carbonatite with rare earth elements obtained from a Canadian mining company.

Description

The mineral species include: dolomite (35.4%); ankerite (22.6%); siderite (13.0%); barite (8.6%); chlorite (5.0%); apatite-REE and calcite (each at 3.1%); hornblende (1.7%); pyrite (1.3%); fergusonite (1.1%); allanite (0.9%); galgenbergite and monazite (each at 0.6%); apatite and magnetite (each at 0.4%); rutile-Nb (0.3%); hastingsite, parisite, quartz and Y-Ti-niobate (each at 0.2%); bastnaesite , biotite, Ca-Fe-REE, Ca-Ti-Ce-Nd-silicate, chevkinite, hematite, sphalerite, titanite-REE and Y-Ca-silicate (each at 0.1%); annite and Ca-betafite (each at 0.03%); molybdenite and titanite (each at 0.02%); ilmenite, orthoclase and thorite (each at 0.01%).

Intended use

REE-2 is suitable for the analysis of rare earth elements and other elements in ores at concentrations ranging from major, minor to trace levels. Examples of intended use include quality control and method development.

Instructions for use

REE-2 should be used “as is”, without drying. The contents of the bottle should be thoroughly mixed before taking samples. The values herein pertain to the material when produced. CanmetMINING is not responsible for changes occurring after shipment.

Handling instructions

Normal safety precautions for handling fine particulate matter are suggested, such as the use of safety glasses, breathing protection, gloves and a laboratory coat.

Method of preparation

After crushing, milling and sieving, the recovery of the minus 75 µm fraction was 70%. The product was blended, and then bottled in 100-gram units. This is the only size that is available.

Homogeneity

The homogeneity of the stock was investigated using fifteen bottles chosen according to a stratified random sampling scheme. Three subsamples were analyzed from each bottle. Subsamples of 0.05 grams were digested using hydrochloric, nitric and hydrofluoric acids in a microwave oven, and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectroscopy for calcium and cerium; and by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry for erbium, samarium and thorium.

Use of a smaller subsample than specified above will invalidate the use of the certified values and associated parameters. A one–way analysis of variance technique (ANOVA^{Footnote 1})and statistical analyses were used to assess the homogeneity of these elements. No significant between-bottle variation was observed for all elements.

Certified values

Twenty-one industrial, commercial and government laboratories participated in an interlaboratory measurement program using methods of their own choice.

Methods for the determination of the elements included digestion with various combinations of acids on a hot plate; and various types of fusions followed by the determination using inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry. Instrumental neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence on a pressed powder pellet, fused pellet or after a fusion were used for many elements.

The concentration of carbon was determined using combustion followed by infrared spectrometry.

The concentration of sulphur was determined using combustion followed by infrared spectrometry; acid digestion using four acids or fusions followed by inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry or X-ray fluorescence.

ANOVA was used to calculate the consensus values and other statistical parameters from the data from interlaboratory measurement program. Values are deemed to be certified if derived from 10 or more sets of data that meet CCRMP’s statistical criterion regarding the agreement of the results. Thirty-three analytes were certified (see Table 1).

Full details of all work, including the statistical analyses, the methods and the names of the participating laboratories are contained in the Certification Report. For more details on how to use reference material data to assess laboratory results, users are directed to ISO Guide 33:2015, pages 14-17, and the publication, “Assessment of laboratory performance of CCRMP-certified reference materials”.

Uncertified values

Twenty-four provisional values (Table 2) were derived from 8 or 9 sets of data that fulfill the CCRMP statistical criterion regarding agreement; or 10 or more sets of data, that do not fulfill the CCRMP statistical criteria required for certification; or 6 or 7 sets of data for which the statistical analysis of the data warranted provisional status. This latter group includes beryllium; and both copper and nickel, specifically by acid digestion. Indicative values for 12 analytes, shown in Table 3, were derived from the means of a minimum of 3 sets of data.

Traceability

The values quoted herein are based on the consensus values derived from the statistical analysis of the data from the interlaboratory measurement program, and the standards used by the individual laboratories. The report gives the available details.

Certification history

REE-2 was released as a new material in January 2016.

Period of validity

The certified values are valid until January 30, 2036.

Legal notice

CanmetMINING has prepared this reference material and statistically evaluated the analytical data of the interlaboratory measurement program to the best of its ability. The purchaser, by receipt hereof, releases and indemnifies CanmetMINING from and against all liability and costs arising out of the use of this material and information.

Certifying officers

For further information

The Certification Report is available free of charge upon request.

CCRMP,CanmetMINING
555 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G1
Canada

Telephone: 343-543-6830
E-mail: Contact CCRMP

Go back to Price Certificate List