LA-ICP-MS

Laser ablation ICP-MS/MS coupling allows the spatially resolved quantification of the elemental composition of solid samples (e.g. mineral thin sections, glass samples, tree cores or mussel shells). This makes it possible to quantitatively localise heterogeneities in the sample material and trace them back to their elemental origin, e.g. to identify the incorporation of trace elements into mineral phases as a function of the crystallographic surface. Dendroanalysis of tree cores allows elemental content to be traced back to the time of sampling using annual rings.

Equipment

8900 Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS (Fa. Agilent, Waldbronn, Deutschland, funded by the German Research Foundation (FKZ INST 275/441-1 FUGGExternal link).)

A 213 nm Nd:YAG laser ablation system LSX-213 G2+ (Teledyne CETAC Technologies, Omaha, USA) can be coupled for direct analysis of solids. The sample chamber is a HelEx II Active 2-Volume Cell (Teledyne CETAC Technologies, Omaha, USA). This can be used with an open geometry sample holder (9.4 x 9.0 x 1.5 cm) or a holder for cores (2.5 cm diameter) and sections (max. 2.4 x 10.0 cm). A range of reference materials for geological and biological materials are available for quantification. Further information on request.

Sample preparation

The sample preparation of solid samples for analysis using LA-ICP-MS depends on the sample material and must be agreed in advance.