Elemental Analyses Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) of Geological Samples Fused with Li 2 B 4 O 7 and Calibrated Without Matrix-Matched Standards

Abstract

Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used as a complementary technique to X-ray¯uorescence (XRF), for multi-element analysis of geological samples fused with lithium-tetraborate Li 2 B 4 O 7 . Different calibration strategies using external non-matrix matched reference materials were investigated. Various internal standards were tested, including the use of Li from the¯ux, and the use of the naturally occurring internal standards, Si or Ca. The use of a naturally occurring standard is not as ef®cient as this required a prior analysis of the samples using XRF. The obtained values for the analysis of geological reference materials were compared with consensus literature values, and satisfactory agreement was found. Laser pits, which were formed, had a diameter of 80 mm and 3±5 replicates on each fused disc were measured. The reproducibility of the method was better than 10% for concentrations above 1 mg/g and better than 15% for lower concentrations. The use of Li as the internal standard offers the possibility of multielement determinations in geological samples, which have an unknown composition when the laser ablation analysis is carried out. However, using the calculated stoichiometric composition of the lithium-tetraborate for the calculation of the Li concentration leads to a constant deviation from the recommended values. Therefore, it was necessary to determine the Li concentration within each sample batch using at least one lithium tetraborate fused geological reference material. This resulting Li concentration in the beads was then used for all subsequent samples in a run. Limits of detection, reproducibility, deviation from reference values indicate the potential of LA-ICP-MS for such bulk analysis without matrix matched calibration standards.

Geochronology, geochemistry and isotope tracing of the Oligocene magmatism of the Buchim–Damjan–Borov Dol ore district: Implications for timing, duration and source of the magmatism

“…The machine is equipped with an Excimer laser (ArF 193 nm) and a PE SCIEX Elan 6100 DRC ICPMS. The spot size of the laser was 40 μm, and for calibration the NIST 610 standard was used (Günther et al, 2001;Halter et al, 2004). …”

Synthetic Samples Preparation to Identify Al2O3 Particles in Steel by Laser Ablation ICP Mass Spectrometry

“…"In-house" solid synthetic samples are often prepared to allow external calibration utilizing matrix matching in terms of sample composition because the ablation rate (quantity of mass ablated per laser pulse) varies with the sample matrix. Preparation of pelletized solids 20,21) or fused beads 22,23) are two common approaches to the generation of solid standards; nevertheless, these procedures are primarily for bulk analysis, as they usually eliminate the spatial integrity of the sample.…”

Whole rock multiple trace element analyses using fused glass bead by laser ablation-ICP-MS

“…Although solution method requiring a few thousandfold dilution of nitric acid following acid digestion of rock samples is the common method used for the whole rock analysis using ICP-MS, the laser ablation (LA) method using glass beads or rock powder pellets has also been recently adopted (e.g., Morrison et al, 1995;Becker and Dietze, 1999;Günther et al, 2001;Eggins, 2003;Orihashi and Hirata, 2003;Kurosawa et al, 2006). Advantages and disadvantages of the solution and − 28 − Japan, vol.…”