Intercomparison between neutron activation analysis laboratories for trace elements determination in lacustrine sediments

An intercomparison concerning the concentrations of 23 major and trace elements in recent lacustrine sediments, as determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, has been performed by using epithermal neutrons at the Joint institute of Nuclear Research, Dubna, (Russia) and thermal neutrons at the National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest, (Romania). Sc, La, Tb, Yb, Th, Na, Rb, Cs, Ba, As, Sb, Hf, Cr, Fe, Co, and Zn concentrations agreed within one standard deviation, Ce, Sm, Lu, Ca, Br, and Ta concentrations agreed within two standard deviation. The results were interpreted in the framework of the Upper Continental Crust model. The Factor Analysis has shown that all elements form a single cluster, irrespective of the laboratory where the analysis was performed.