The determination of U and Th in bulk primitive chondritic meteorites has long presented an analytical challenge to the cosmochemical community.  Because these analyses require the determination of low concentrations (U <10 ng�g-1 and Th <40 ng�g-1) in small samples (<0.1 g), typically in conjunction with complete multielemental analyses, INAA followed by RNAA was the standard approach.  However, over the last 20 years ICPMS has supplanted this approach and made a significant impact in all aspects of actinide analysis.  Here, we utilize ICPMS to measure ultratrace concentrations (<100 pg�mL-1) of U, Th, and over 60 other major, minor and trace element constituents in solutions generated from sequential chemical dissolution of three primitive chondritic meteorites in order gain a greater understanding of the actinide distribution within the different phases and minerals in these meteorites and therefore, a greater understanding of the cosmochemical processes that led to their final disposition.

Determination of the concentrations and distributions of U and Th in primitive meteorites by sequential chemical dissolution and ICPMS analysis

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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