Progress in the Development of Marine Geological Reference Materials

Reference materials for marine geological samples are an essential basis for ensuring the quality of data generated from marine geological surveys, resource assessment, and environmental monitoring, and provide critical technical support for the accuracy, metrological traceability, and comparability of analytical results. This study systematically reviews the development history and representative reference materials of marine geological samples in China and abroad, summarizes the major characteristics of marine geological reference material systems, and focuses on the major challenges and future directions of marine geological reference materials in China. Existing studies indicate that foreign marine geological reference materials typically have 20–40 assigned measurands and provide relatively broad coverage of application-specific indicators, including organic contaminants, radionuclides, elemental species, and isotopes, in addition to conventional inorganic elements. China has issued 31 marine geological reference materials, including 24 sediment-based and 7 mineral-based materials. Individual reference materials typically have 40–70 or more assigned measurands, with relatively comprehensive coverage of conventional inorganic elements but more limited coverage of application-specific indicators and distinctive marine geological sample types. In recent years, progress has been made in the development of reference materials for specific measurands, such as rare earth elements, nitrogen, and organic carbon, as well as distinctive matrices, including ultrafine materials and deltaic sediments. Nevertheless, several limitations remain, including insufficient coverage of material types and assigned measurands, an underdeveloped concentration-gradient system, and the need to improve matrix compatibility and regional representativeness. Key technical challenges also remain in the homogenization of complex-matrix materials, the accurate determination of low-level and interference-prone measurands, and the evaluation of homogeneity, stability, and measurement uncertainty. Future efforts should focus on improving the range of reference material types and measurands, strengthening matrix compatibility, regional representativeness, and concentration-gradient design, enhancing capabilities in material preparation, characterization, and quality assessment, and developing a marine geological reference material system that covers diverse marine regions, depositional environments, and analytical applications.