Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in the analysis of natural materials
with a focus on geological and archaeological samples
Michaela Hložková
Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is
a widespread analytical method that has found application in various scientific fields such
as geology, geochemistry, mineralogy, archeology, biology or environmental chemistry
and others, not only for obtaining qualitative and quantitative information in specific areas
of the studied materials, but it also enables in-situ determining the spatial elemental
distribution with resolution down to the µm scale with high sensitivity and low detection
limits. Moreover, isotopic and multi-element analysis or minimum destructiveness are
other benefits.
The first part of the research was devoted to biominerals, specifically to study of the
bioapatite alteration of recent and fossil skeletal remains by means of LA-ICP-MS. This
modification including changes in the chemical composition as well as structure is a
complex process depending on environmental (geo)chemical conditions and tissue
properties. The research was focused on chemical alteration of bioapatite via
determination of Rare Earth Elements as an indicators of the degree of diagenesis, and
on structural changes caused by microbial activity.
The second part of the research was focused on LA-ICP-MS analyses of geological
samples in order to describe geochemical processes and mineral chemistry. The aim was
to fundamental study of laser ablation interaction with various minerals such as quartz,
feldspar, mica, tourmaline, and to find optimal parameters of laser device as well as ICP
mass spectrometer for determining the contents of matrix, minor and trace elements in
rock-forming minerals of granitoids. Part of the study was also testing the effect of crystal
axis orientation on the interaction with laser radiation and quantification procedure. The
greatest attention was paid to study of trioctahedral mica with a high Li content (1.5-
2.5 %m/m). An extensive study made it possible to interpret the development of granitoids,
define the contents of interested elements and describe the trends of these contents
during magmatic differentiation.