The influence of analytical errors of geochemical analyses on genetic conclusions is typically underestimated by researchers. The composition of rocks or minerals, as a rule, is shown on diagrams as a point, actually with no size, however, all analyses should be presented on diagrams as fields rather than points. The larger the analytical error, the larger the field. It is shown that all genetic geochemical diagrams, interpretations, and conclusions are senseless with analytical errors of ~30 % and more, because the area of the “point” (more precisely, the field) of a single analysis in this case can cover 2–3 different geodynamic fields. Specific examples of results of ICP-MS analyses of different rocks with high analytical errors are shown. An example of erroneous geodynamic interpretations, which are based on geochemical data only, includes the island-arc classification of Triassic volcanic rocks of Western Siberia. Initiatives for the increasing the accuracy of geochemical analyses are proposed.
Keywords: ICP-MS analyses, analytical error, ternary diagrams, geodynamic settings, Western Siberia rifts.
Funding. This work was supported by state contract of the Institute of Geology and Geochemistry UB RAS no. 123011800014-3.
Acknowledgements. The author thanks to colleagues, Cand. Geol.-Mineral. Sci. V.N. Smirnov and N.V. Vakhrusheva for analyses, T.N. Surin, scientific editors of the journal E.V. Belogub and I.Yu. Melekestseva, and an anonymous reviewer for their helpful comments.
Conflict of interest. The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest.
For citation:  Ivanov K.S. Influence of errors of geochemical analyses on genetic geodynamic and geological conclusions. Mineralogy, 2026, 12(2), 118–129. https://doi.org/10.35597/2313-545X-2026-12-2-8.

Received 04.12.2025, revised 20.01.2026, accepted 07.02.2026

Kirill S. Ivanov – Doct. Sci. (Geol.-Mineral.), Key Researcher, Institute of Geology and Geochemistry UB RAS, Yekaterinburg, Russia; ivanovks55@ya.ru

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