Ablation Characteristic of Ilmenite using UV Nanosecond and Femtosecond Lasers: Implications for Non‐Matrix‐Matched Quantification. Issue 4 (26th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Zhen; Hu, Zhaochu; Günther, Detlef; Zong, Keqing; Liu, Yongsheng; Luo, Tao; Zhang, Wen; Gao, Shan; Hu, Shenghong
• Is Part Of: Geostandards and geoanalytical research. Volume 40:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 477
• Page End: 491
• Publication Date: 2016-04-26
• Subjects: LA‐ICP‐MS -- elemental fractionation -- melting effects -- ilmenite -- non‐matrix‐matched calibration; Mots‐clés -- LA‐ICP‐MS -- fractionnement élémentaire -- effets de fusion -- ilménite -- calibration matrice non adaptée; Analytical geochemistry -- Periodicals; Géochimie analytique -- Périodiques; 551.9
• DOI: 10.1111/ggr.12117
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1639-4488

Abstract

Abstract : Ilmenite (FeTiO3 ) is a common accessory mineral and has been used as a powerful petrogenetic indicator in many geological settings. Elemental fractionation and matrix effects in ilmenite (CRN63E‐K) and silicate glass (NIST SRM 610) were investigated using 193 nm ArF excimer nanosecond (ns) laser and 257 nm femtosecond (fs) laser ablation systems coupled to an inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometer. The concentration‐normalised 57 Fe and 49 Ti responses in ilmenite were higher than those in NIST SRM 610 by a factor of 1.8 using fs‐LA. Compared with the 193 nm excimer laser, smaller elemental fractionation was observed using the 257 nm fs laser. When using 193 nm excimer laser ablation, the selected range of the laser energy density had a significant effect on the elemental fractionation in ilmenite. Scanning electron microscopy images of ablation craters and the morphologies of the deposited aerosol materials showed more melting effects and an enlarged particle deposition area around the ablation site of the ns‐LA‐generated crater when compared with those using fs‐LA. The ejected material around the ns crater predominantly consisted of large droplets of resolidified molten material; however, the ejected material around the fs crater consisted of agglomerates of fine particles with 'rough' shapes. These observations are a result of the different ablation mechanisms for ns‐ and fs‐LAs. Non‐matrix‐matched calibration was applied for the analysis of ilmenite samples using NIST SRM 610 as a reference material for both 193 nm excimer LA‐ICP‐MS and fs‐LA‐ICP‐MS. Similar analytical results for most elements in ilmenite samples were obtained using both 193 nm excimer LA‐ICP‐MS at a high laser energy density of 12.7 J cm −2 and fs‐LA‐ICP‐MS. Key Points: Melting effect is significant in ns‐LA‐ICP‐MS. Non‐matrix‐matched calibration method for ilmenite sample analysis is evaluated. The fs‐LA‐ICP‐MS technique or ns‐LA‐ICP‐MS at a high laser energy density is recommended when analysing ilmenite.