Dear friend Trisrota Chaudhuri

For oxygen isotope analysis, the choice of natural sample for secondary reference material is crucial. To prepare a secondary oxygen isotope standard, you Trisrota Chaudhuri should target a rock type that contains the mineral of interest, quartz.

The ideal type of rock for this purpose is one that has undergone minimal alteration and preserves a stable isotopic composition. This helps ensure the accuracy and reliability of the reference material. Therefore, quartz-rich rocks with low levels of alteration, such as quartzite or granite, are excellent candidates.

Quartzite, being a metamorphic rock predominantly composed of quartz, offers a stable matrix for oxygen isotope analysis. Its formation involves the recrystallization of quartz grains, often resulting in a uniform isotopic composition.

Granite, an igneous rock, also contains abundant quartz and tends to have relatively stable isotopic compositions, making it another suitable choice.

Both quartzite and granite provide excellent substrates for secondary reference materials due to their quartz-rich nature and stability, making them ideal candidates for preparing secondary oxygen isotope standards.

Hi Kaushik,

Thanks for commenting.

However, these are all known facts.

I was more interested to know what type of granite I should target.