Mapping of different structures on large area of granite sample using laser-ablation based analytical techniques, an exploratory study

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part B: Atomic spectroscopy Vol. 63; no. 10; pp. 1139 - 1144
• Main Authors: Novotný, K., Kaiser, J., Galiová, M., Konečná, V., Novotný, J., Malina, R., Liška, M., Kanický, V., Otruba, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-10-2008
• Subjects: Compositional mapping; Geological samples; LA-ICP-MS; LIBS; Spatially-resolved analysis; Geological samples; LA-ICP-MS; Spatially-resolved analysis; LIBS; Compositional mapping
• ISSN: 0584-8547; 1873-3565
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2008.06.011

Laser-ablation based analytical techniques represent a simple way for fast chemical analysis of different materials. In this work, an exploratory study of multi-element (Ca, Al, Fe, Mn) mappings of a granite sample surface was performed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and subsequently by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analysis. The operating parameters (e.g. pulse energy, ablation-crater size) were optimized for both techniques in order to achieve the appropriate conditions for two-dimensional high-resolution compositional mappings of mineral microstructures in large sample areas. The sample was scanned with 100
×
100 individual sample points to map an area of 20
×
20 mm
2. The normalized signals were used for construct of contour plots which were colored according local distribution of the selected elements. The results of two laser-based methods were compared and found to be similar.