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）已成为地球和环境科学应用中领先的微量分析技术之一。 这项技术的应用提供了以前无法实现的地质和环境过程的见解。 无论如何，该方法的限制（即，非代表性取样、元素和同位素分馏）可能影响所获数据的精确度和准确性，从而影响使用这种方法得出的结论。 新的激光取样技术（即，超快激光器）具有克服早期LA-ICPMS系统中固有的限制的潜力。 该研究计划有三个主要内容：1。开发和评估用于地质介质（矿物、流体包裹体）元素和同位素分析的超快（UF）-LA-ICPMS和UF-LA-MC-ICPMS分析技术; 2.将UF-LA-ICPMS和UF-LA-MC-ICPMS应用于受良好约束的地质系统，以更好地了解高场强元素在含水流体中的迁移。利用这些技术评价重要但了解甚少的地质（热液矿床存款形成）和环境（鱼类种群鉴别）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.