The sample handling team routinely prepares bulk reference materials for a variety of sample matrices such as soils, peats and sediments. Bulk materials and reference materials are used for laboratory quality control and proficiency testing to assess the quality of instrumentation and analytical techniques.
Reference materials at the BGS
Reference material preparation and characterisation has been carried out at the BGS over the past 50 years. Following an interlaboratory investigation of accuracy in ore analysis carried out by the then Institute of Geological Sciences in 1968, further ores and mineral concentrates have helped establish accurate and consensual analysis in the mining sector. More recently, soil and stream sediment samples have been helping to provide quality control for multi-elemental geochemical analysis programmes and contaminated land analysis.
We have produced a suite of ten new soil reference materials as part of our BGS110 series, with a wide range of soil chemistry and elemental concentrations to cater for different analytical needs, interests and industries, such as:
- agriculture
- impact upon human and animal nutrition
- geochemical exploration
- contaminated land management
Reference material details
| Name | Description | Weight (g) | Price (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BGS110 | Till with granitic content | 40 | 70 |
| BGS111 | Silty clay soil overlying serpentinite | 38 | 70 |
| BGS112 | Sandy granitic till overlying granite | 43 | 70 |
| BGS113 | Silty clay soil overlying clastic metasediments | 38 | 70 |
| BGS114 | Silty soil overlying clastic metasediments | 41 | 70 |
| BGS115 | Silty/peaty soil overlying limestone | 24 | 70 |
| BGS116 | Silty soil overlying limestone | 43 | 70 |
| BGS117 | Silty soil overlying sandstone | 41 | 70 |
| BGS118 | Silty soil overlying shale | 38 | 70 |
| BGS119 | Soil with industrial contamination (<250 μm) | 26 | 70 |
| BGS102 | Ironstone soil | 100 | 90 |
| IGS27 | Molybdenum-tungsten (Mo-W) ore | 65 | 25 |
| IGS29 | Pyrolusite | 40 | 25 |
| IGS30 | Chromite | 55 | 25 |
| IGS32 | Rutile | 45 | 25 |
| IGS35 | Zircon | 50 | 25 |
| IGS39 | Fluorite | 55 | 25 |
Postage and packing is added as follows:
- Tracked UK delivery: £15.00
- Tracked European delivery: £25.00
- Tracked worldwide delivery: £35.00
All prices quoted exclude VAT at the applicable rate.
Contact
For purchasing and more information on the reference materials, please contact the inorganic geochemistry team.
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