Development and application of UF-LA-ICPMS analytical methods to geologic and environmental media

激光烧蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱(LA-ICPMS)已经成为地球和环境科学应用的主要微分析技术之一。该技术的应用提供了对地质和环境过程的洞察，这是以前无法获得的。尽管如此，该方法的局限性(即非代表性采样、元素和同位素分馏)可能会影响所获得数据的精密度和准确度，从而影响使用该方法得出的结论。新的激光采样技术(即，超快激光)具有克服早期LA-ICPMS系统固有局限性的潜力。本研究计划有三个主要内容：1.开发和评估超快(UF)-LA-ICPMS和UF-LA-MC-ICPMS分析技术，用于地质介质(矿物、流体包裹体)的元素和同位素分析；2.将UF-LA-ICPMS和UF-LA-MC-ICPMS应用于良好约束的地质系统，以更好地了解高场强元素在水溶液中的传输，3.利用这些技术评估重要但知之甚少的地质学(热液矿床形成)和环境(鱼类种群歧视)问题。

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) has become one of the leading microanalytical techniques for earth and environmental science applications.  Application of this technique has provided insights into geologic and environmental processes that were previously unattainable.  Regardless, limitations in the method (i.e., non-representative sampling, elemental and isotopic fractionation) may influence the precision and accuracy of data obtained and, therefore, conclusions made using this method.  New laser sampling technology (i.e., ultrafast lasers) has the potential to overcome the limitations inherent in earlier LA-ICPMS systems.  This research program has three  principal elements: 1. to develop and evaluate ultrafast (UF)-LA-ICPMS and UF-LA-MC-ICPMS analytical techniques for elemental and isotopic analysis of geologic media (minerals, fluid inclusions), 2. to apply UF-LA-ICPMS and UF-LA-MC-ICPMS to well constrained geologic systems in order to better understand the transport of high field strength elements in aqueous fluids, 3. to use these techniques to evaluate important but poorly understood geologic (hydrothermal ore deposit formation) and environmental (fish stock discrimination) issues.