Determination of nanogram amounts of bismuth in rocks by substoichiometric isotope dilution analysis

A rapid procedure suitable for the routine determination of 1–10 ng of bismuth in a silicate rock matrix is described. Results for the U.S. Geological Survey standard rocks are presented. Rocks and minerals are dissolved in hydrofluoric-perchloric acid in the presence of ²⁰⁷Bi tracer and the silica is removed by evaporation. The perchloric acid residue is taken up in water and bismuth iodide is extracted into methyl isobutyl ketone. After three acid-iodide washes, the bismuth is stripped into water and reacted with a substoichiometric amount of EDTA. Excess of bismuth is extracted as the iodide and the specific activity of the bismuth-EDTA complex is determined.