Our laboratory hosts a RESOlution SE laser ablation (LA) system coupled to an Agilent 8900 QQQ inductively couple plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The LA-ICP-MS facility mainly performs trace-element analysis of minerals, glasses, and bulk samples, but also permits U-Th-Pb age determination, fluid inclusion or frozen fluid analysis. Point analyses, line scans and compositional mapping are routinely employed.
Specfications of the system and its components:
Laser ablation system (RESOlution SE)
- Compact 193 nm Ar-F excimer laser
- Fluence on sample up to 20 J/cm2
- Laser repetition rate of <300 Hz, pulse width of 5 ns
- Spot size from 2 μm to 100 μm (round, rectangular or slit)
- Large, dual volume sample cell (S155 Laurin technique)
- Custom freezing cell for fluid analysis
- Fast washout times (99% in < 1 s)
- Smoothing device (SQUID)
- Flexible sample holders
- Ar-He-N gas cell
Mass spectrometer (Agilent 8900QQQ)
- Quadrupole mass spectrometer
- Octopole reaction system (setup for He)
- High frequency mass analyzers (Q1: 2-260, Q2: 2-275)
- EM detector dynamic range: 10 orders (from ppt to %)
- Minimum dwell time in TRA mode: 0.1 ms
- High short and long term stability (≤3% RSD)
- High sensitivity (7Li=150, 89Y=500, 205Tl=300 Mcps/ppm)
- Detection limit for most isotopes ppb to a low ppm
- Low doubly-charged ion production rate (Ce++/Ce+ ≤3)
- Low oxide production rate (CeO+/Ce+ ≤1.5)
Instrument software and software for data treatment
- MassHunter: Supports efficient data acquisition, qualitative LA data analysis and reporting
- GeoStar: Provides full laser control, navigation, and manual or automated microanalysis
- Glitter: Data reduction software for laser ablation (element concentrations, isotope ratios)
- Iolite: Data reduction software for laser ablation (element concentrations, isotope ratios, compositional maps)