
Central science or central service—a personal view
Detlef Günther introduces the Geological applications of laser ablation themed issue.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 952-954
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA90018A
U–Pb dating of CA/non-CA treated zircons obtained by LA-ICP-MS and CA-TIMS techniques: impact for their geological interpretation
Chemical Abrasion Isotope-Dilution Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS) is known as a high precision technique for resolving lead loss and improving the interpretation of U–Pb zircon age data.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 1618-1629
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00102H
Comparison of 795 nm and 265 nm femtosecond and 193 nm nanosecond laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the quantitative multi-element analysis of glass materials
A benchmark of FUV-ns- vs. NIR/MUV-fs-LA-ICPMS of glass materials concerning the accuracy of analysis is reported.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 1345-1353
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00030G
Development and characterization of custom-engineered and compacted nanoparticles as calibration materials for quantification using LA-ICP-MS
Flame spray synthesis was used to produce a reference nano-material with a customized composition for use in LA-ICP-MS.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 955-962
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00054D
Evaluation of pneumatic nebulization and ns-laser ablation ICP-MS for bulk elemental analysis and 2-dimensional element mapping of iron meteorites
In this work, the capabilities and limitations of ns-LA-ICP-MS for bulk and spatially resolved (elemental mapping) analysis of iron meteorites were assessed.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 1001-1016
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3JA50387A

Nano-particulate pressed powder tablets for LA-ICP-MS
A new method produces undiluted pressed powder tablets for LA-ICP-MS opening prospects for manufacturing mineral standards for isotopic and geochemical analysis.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 990-1000
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00007B

LA-ICP-MS Pb–U dating of young zircons from the Kos–Nisyros volcanic centre, SE Aegean arc
Dating of zircons in the 100 ka range is possible with LA-ICP-MS applying Th-disequilibrium correction.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 963-970
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00009A
Optimisation of laser parameters for the analysis of sulphur isotopes in sulphide minerals by laser ablation ICP-MS
The effects of laser type (Nd:YAG and excimer lasers) and their analytical parameters on 34S/32S isotopic fractionation during LA-ICP-MS analysis were investigated.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 1042-1051
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00011K
Fractionation of sulphur relative to iron during laser ablation-ICP-MS analyses of sulphide minerals: implications for quantification
In this study we investigate the effect that the mineral composition has on the quantification of sulphur by Laser Ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) between a range of sulphide minerals: pyrite, pyrrhotite, bornite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pentlandite and tetrahedrite.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 1024-1033
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00012A
What happens when n= 1000? Creating large-n geochronological datasets with LA-ICP-MS for geologic investigations
LA-MC-ICP-MS and LA-SC-ICP-MS were used to generate large n (i.e., n = 1000) U–Pb detrital zircon age data sets with little sacrifice of precision and accuracy over more traditional methods.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 971-980
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00024B
In situ U–Pb dating of bastnaesite by LA-ICP-MS
Bastnaesite, a common accessory mineral in REE ore deposits, is ideal for U–Pb isotopic dating because of its relatively high U and Th contents.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 1017-1023
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00001C
The zircon ‘matrix effect’: evidence for an ablation rate control on the accuracy of U–Pb age determinations by LA-ICP-MS
This papers describes the source of systematic bias in U–Pb zircon dating by LA-ICP-MS.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 981-989
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00008K

Quantification of trace element contents in frozen fluid inclusions by UV-fs-LA-ICP-MS analysis
Gain in control and reliability for trace element analysis of fluid inclusions by the application of a new procedure.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 1034-1041
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00015C

Fluid inclusion measurements by laser ablation sector-field ICP-MS
The performance of a sector field ICP-MS in comparison with a quadrupole ICP-MS for fluid inclusion analysis has been evaluated.
J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014,29, 1052-1057
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4JA00010B
About this collection
This collection of papers highlights the field of geological applications of laser ablation, covering a mixture of both fundamental advances and exciting new applications.