Determination of rhenium content in molybdenite by ICP–MS after separation of the major matrix by solvent extraction with N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxalamine

A simple and rapid analytical method for determining the concentration of rhenium in molybdenite for Re–Os dating was developed. The method used isotope dilution–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ID–ICP–MS) after the removal of major matrix elements (e.g., Mo, Fe, and W) from Re by solvent extraction with N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) in chloroform solution. The effect on extraction efficiency of parameters such as pH (HCl concentration), BPHA concentration, and extraction time were also assessed. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the validity of the separation method was accessed by measuring 187Re/185Re values for a molybdenite reference material (JDC). The obtained values were in good agreement with previously measured values of the Re standard. The proposed method was applied to replicate Re–Os dating of JDC and seven samples of molybdenite from the Yuanzhuding large Cu–Mo porphyry deposit. The results demonstrate good precision and accuracy for the proposed method. The advantages of the method (i.e., simplicity, efficiency, short analysis time, and low cost) make it suitable for routine analysis.