APPLICATION NOTE

OREAS 149 Spodumene-rich Pegmatite Ore

SUMMARY

The application note summarizes the digestion of OREAS 149, a Spodumene-rich Pegmatite Ore certified reference material using ColdBlock Digestion CBM Technology.

Instrument: ColdBlock CBM Pro Series, chiller, ICP-OES, HF liners
Published: April 2025
Digestion Time: 30 Minutes
Acid Used: Aqua Regia, HF & H3BO3
Average ColdBlock Recovery vs. CRM:
  • 98% Calcium
  • 103% Lithium
  • 97% Niobium

METHODOLOGY

  1. Chiller temperature was set to -5 °C
  2. 0.25g of each sample was weighed in triplicate and placed into ColdBlock™ digestion vessels (outfitted with HF friendly liners)
  3. 20 mL Aqua Regia + 3mL Hydrofluoric Acid was added
  4. Sample was digested at 80% power for 20 minutes
  5. 20mL of 4% boric acid was added, and sample was digested again at 80% power for 10 minutes
  6. Sample was cooled and bulked to 50mL using 2% HNO3 v/v

DISCUSSION

  • The addition of boric acid will help re-solubilize any fluoride precipitates that form such as Ca, Mg & Al
  • After 30 minutes the samples appear clear, and no visible material remains

OREAS 149 after bulk-up

OREAS 149 has been prepared from spodumene- rich pegmatite ore with minor additions of Nb concentrate

Results

OREAS 149 Spodumene-rich Pegmatite Ore

Method:

0.25g – Add 20mL AR + 3mL HF and digest at 80% power for 20 minutes, add 20mL 4% boric acid v/v and digest again at 80% power for 10 minutes. Let cool, and bulk to 50mL

Element

Certified 4-acid Value

(ppm)

ColdBlock Result A (ppm)

ColdBlock Result B (ppm)

ColdBlock Result C (ppm)

Average (ppm)

Stdev

% RSD

% Recovery vs Certified Value

Al

74700

73555

75449

75455

74820

894

1.2%

100%

Ca

10400

10094

10269

10291

10218

88

0.9%

98%

Fe

41700

39904

40489

41248

40547

550

1.4%

97%

K

13800

14802

13946

13093

13947

698

5.0%

101%

Mg

5330

5594

5535

5645

5591

45

0.8%

105%

Na

9320

9734

10221

10015

9990

200

2.0%

107%

Li

9930

10072

10311

10336

10240

119

1.2%

103%

Nb

6310

6191

6087

6111

6130

54

0.9%

97%

Click here to download the Application Note in PDF format.

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