Fundamental study of laser beam-minerals interaction and utilization of
LA-ICP-MS in geology
Michaela HLOŽKOVÁ1
, Michaela VAŠINOVÁ GALIOVÁ2
, Radek ŠKODA3
,
Jindřich KYNICKÝ4
, Viktor KANICKÝ1,5
1
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno,
Czech Republic
2
Chemistry and Technology of Environmental Protection, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno
University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
3
Department of Geological Sciences, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech
Republic
4
BIC Brno, Technology Innovation Transfer Chamber, Purkyňova 125, 612 00, Brno, Czech
Republic
5
Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno,
Czech Republic
Email of presenting author: hlozkova.michaela@mail.muni.cz
Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is
a frequently used analytical method for the characterization of solid-state materials in
geology. Sampling via laser beam has many advantages over conventional solution methods.
It also benefits high lateral resolution combined with low sample consumption and minimal
sample preparation, and multi-elemental analysis with very low detection limits and high
sensitivity, for instance. It is well known that ablated mass quantity and aerosol composition
are affected by laser-beam properties, e.g. wavelength, pulse length, repetition rate, fluence,
diameter of laser beam, and moreover, orientation of mineral grains.
This exploratory study was focused on investigation of the influence of mineral grains
orientation on absorption of laser radiation. Experiments were performed using quadrupolebased
ICP-MS connected with two different laser ablation systems operating at wavelenght of
213 nm and 193 nm, respectively. The influence of crystal axis position on interaction of laser
beam and sample surface was tested for 44 elements from Li to U.
Time-profiles were investigated with respect to orientation of mineral grains. In this
context, the effect of wavelength on the absorption of laser radiation and the signal intensity
was observed in several different crystal axis orientations in analyzed minerals. Electron
MicroProbe Analysis was used as a comparative method and for the purpose of quantification.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation for grant GA14-13600S and
Student Project Grant at Masaryk University – Category A (MUNI/A/1288/2017). This
research has been financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the
Czech Republic under the project CEITEC 2020 (LQ1601).