Highly accurate isotope composition measurements by a miniature laser ablation mass spectrometer designed for in situ investigations on planetary surface

Riedo, Andreas; Meyer, Stefan; Heredia, Benjamin; Neuland, Maike B.; Bieler, André; Tulej, Marek; Leya, Ingo; Iakovleva, M.; Mezger, Klaus; Wurz, Peter (2013). Highly accurate isotope composition measurements by a miniature laser ablation mass spectrometer designed for in situ investigations on planetary surface. Planetary and space science, 87, pp. 1-13. Elsevier 10.1016/j.pss.2013.09.007

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An experimental procedure for precise and accurate measurements of isotope abundances by a miniature laser ablation mass spectrometer for space research is described. The measurements were conducted on different untreated NIST standards and galena samples by applying pulsed UV laser radiation (266 nm, 3 ns and 20 Hz) for ablation, atomisation, and ionisation of the sample material. Mass spectra of released ions are measured by a reflectron-type time-of-flight mass analyser. A computer controlled performance optimiser was used to operate the system at maximum ion transmission and mass resolution. At optimal experimental conditions, the best relative accuracy and precision achieved for Pb isotope compositions are at the per mill level and were obtained in a range of applied laser irradiances and a defined number of accumulated spectra. A similar relative accuracy and precision was achieved in the study of Pb isotope compositions in terrestrial galena samples. The results for the galena samples are similar to those obtained with a thermal ionisation mass spectrometer (TIMS). The studies of the isotope composition of other elements yielded relative accuracy and precision at the per mill level too, with characteristic instrument parameters for each element. The relative accuracy and precision of the measurements is degrading with lower element/isotope concentration in a sample. For the elements with abundances below 100 ppm these values drop to the percent level. Depending on the isotopic abundances of Pb in minerals, 207Pb/206Pb ages with accuracy in the range of tens of millions of years can be achieved.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > Space Research and Planetary Sciences
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geological Sciences
08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geological Sciences > Isotope Geology
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute

UniBE Contributor:

Riedo, Andreas, Meyer, Stefan, Neuland, Maike Brigitte, Bieler, André, Tulej, Marek, Leya, Ingo, Mezger, Klaus, Wurz, Peter

Subjects:

500 Science > 520 Astronomy
600 Technology > 620 Engineering
500 Science > 550 Earth sciences & geology
500 Science > 530 Physics

ISSN:

0032-0633

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Klaus Mezger

Date Deposited:

18 Jun 2014 11:31

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:31

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.pss.2013.09.007

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.46190

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/46190

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