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Hydrogen analysis in minerals by continuous-flow mass spectrometry

Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, MC 100-23, 1200 E California Blvd., Pasadena, California 91125, U.S.A.

We present a method for on-line dehydration of small quantities of hydrous and nominally anhydrous minerals followed by measurement of the absolute abundance of hydrogen released from the sample by continuous-flow mass spectrometry. This method is appropriate for measuring water content between 18 ppm and 10 wt% H₂O and requires a minimum of ~2 x 10^–8 of hydrogen per analysis. The hydrogen needed for an analysis corresponds to 10–200 µg of hydrous minerals or 5–40 mg of nominally anhydrous minerals. We develop measurement protocols for garnet and pyroxene, two nominally anhydrous minerals that are potentially major reservoirs of hydrogen in the mantle.

Key Words: Hydrogen • hydrogen analysis • water content • continuous flow mass spectrometry • nominally anhydrous minerals • IRMS