Laser ablation elemental and isotopic microanalytical methods for minerals and fluid and melt inclusions: development and applications

激光烧蚀电感耦合等离子体质谱（LA-ICP-MS）微区分析技术在过去的20年里给地球科学带来了革命性的变化。在此期间，仪器和应用不断改进;然而，在获得常规的、完全定量的、不依赖于基质的LA-ICP-MS数据方面仍然存在挑战。这项研究计划将确定新开发的LA-ICP-MS仪器在经济和战略上重要的“高技术”（即，高场强和铂族元素）矿床。该研究计划将产生：1）我们对激光/物质相互作用的理解的改进，这对于进行完全定量的LA-ICP-MS分析至关重要，2）新的或修改的元素和同位素微量分析程序，其将相对于先前的LA-ICP-MS系统和方法提高数据质量，（3）对于确定热液作用在这些重要矿床形成中的作用至关重要的新信息，目前基本上没有这方面的数据。研究成果将是重要的：1）越来越多的国际研究人员有兴趣使用LA-ICP-MS微分析程序和应用，2）矿物存款研究人员和勘探地球科学家有兴趣改善勘探和开发战略，这些矿床。我们的实验室在地球科学和环境应用的短脉宽LA-ICP-MS的开发和应用方面一直处于世界领先地位。该计划将产生独特的仪器、分析方法和实际应用研究，这将有助于加拿大研究人员继续在LA-ICP-MS的开发和应用中发挥领导作用。

Microanalysis using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has revolutionized the geosciences over the past 20 years. Continual improvements have been made in instrumentation and applications over this period; however, challenges remain in obtaining routine, fully quantitative, matrix-independent LA-ICP-MS data. This research program will determine the benefits of newly developed LA-ICP-MS instrumentation for the investigation of economically and strategically important 'high-technology' (i.e., high field strength and platinum group element) mineral deposits. The research program will produce: 1) improvements in our understanding of laser/matter interactions, which are critical to conducting fully quantitative LA-ICP-MS analyses, 2) novel or modified elemental and isotopic microanalytical procedures that will improve data quality relative to previous LA-ICP-MS systems and methods, and 3) new information that is critical to determining the role of hydrothermal processes in the formation of these important mineral deposits, for which data are presently largely non-existent. The research output will be important to: 1) a growing body of international researchers interested in using LA-ICP-MS microanalytical procedures and applications, and 2) mineral deposit researchers and exploration geoscientists interested in improving exploration and development strategies for these mineral deposits. Our lab has been a world leader in the development and application of short pulse width LA-ICP-MS for geoscience and environmental applications. The unique instrumentation, analytical methods, and practical applications research that will result from this program will contribute to Canadian researchers continuing their leadership role in the development and application of LA-ICP-MS.