Determination of rare earths in selected rare earth matrices by spark source mass spectrometry.

Three methods of preparing rare earth samples for mass spectrographic analysis are presented. Techniques for adding appropriate internal standards are described and relative sensitivity factors for rare earth impurities in rare earths, lanthanum, yttrium and scandium matrices are presented. Although indium has some value as an internal standard in rare earth samples, best analytical results are obtained when selected rare earths are used as internal standards.