The determination of yttrium, europium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium in minerals by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

A procedure is described for determining yttrium, europium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium in zirconium and calcium rare earth silicates by atomic-absorption spectroscopy, which involves the use of a lanthanum suppressor and has potential applications to other minerals containing these interferences. Although many of the associated ingredients are found to interfere, the addition of lanthanum overcomes these problems in many instances. Sensitivities and detection limits found with the proposed procedure are given for each element.