UV LASER-ABLATION ICP-MS - SOME APPLICATIONS IN THE EARTH-SCIENCES

This study reports a series of applications of UV laser ablation ICP-M S in the geological sciences. The advantages and disadvantages of the PQ ''S'' option and the use of nitrogen in the carrier gas are discuss ed. A general problem common to all ablation techniques is the calibra tion technique and experiments involving synthetic calibration samples are covered. Zircon geochemistry and geochronology by LA-ICP-MS are d iscussed and data are presented for REE, Hf and U for a standard zirco n (91500) as well as a series of zircons from Zimbabwe. The potential of using Ce and Eu anomalies in petrologic studies is illustrated by z ircons from a fractionated gabbroic-granite in the Urals. The potentia l of the LA-ICP-MS method to utilise standard X-ray fluorescence glass discs is demonstrated as a useful semi-quantitative tool in determini ng REE patterns. LA-ICP-MS is a powerful tool in the analysis of the p latinum group elements (and Re) and some examples are given in the suc cessful application of the technique to partitioning in iron meteorite s.