Mervyn Greaves and Sambuddha Misra

A PFA cyclonic spray chamber was used with an HR-ICP-MS for the measurement of trace element/calcium ratios in foraminiferal calcite. The signal stability and washout were studied.

Elemental ratio determinations in foraminiferal calcite require the measurement of trace levels of Na, Mg, Sr, and ultra-trace levels of Li, B, Ba, Cd, Mn, U in a calcium rich matrix and ratioed to calcium.