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Review on in situ Isotopic Analysis by LA-MC-ICP-MS

  • Petrology, Geochemistry, and Geodynamics
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Abstract

The method of LA-MC-ICP-MS has become one choice for the analysis of many isotopic systems due to its relatively low cost, high analysis speed, high spatial resolution, and low matrix effect. However, there are still many challenges in the accuracy, precision, and spatial resolution of in situ isotopic composition determination by LA-MC-ICP-MS, which mainly include: (1) how to improve instrument sensitivity, further improve the spatial resolution, and achieve simultaneous determination of isotopes, multiple isotopes, or isotopes with trace elements in low-content samples? (2) how to deduct and correct interference to improve the accuracy of isotopic determination? (3) how to correct isotope fractionation? (4) how to reduce the matrix effect of isotopes? how to develop matrix-matched reference materials? and (5) how to achieve non-matrix-matched correction of isotopes? The high-sensitivity cone combinations, gas mixture, shield torch, and reasonable detector array can be applied to improve the elemental sensitivity. The interferences include the background interference and the interferences from the matrix elements (the isobaric interference, the polyatomic interference, and doubly charged ions interference). To reduce or even eliminate the interference, commonly used methods including interference elimination, background correction, and interference correction by evaluating with an interference-free isotope. Isotopic fractionation correction mainly involves external standard calibration and internal and pseudo-internal standard normalization. For non-matrix matched calibration, many methods can be applied, such as the femtosecond laser, line scan, low laser energy, wet plasma condition, optical setup below the sample surface, and matching the intensity of the sample and standard. In this review, we systematically summarized the above challenges and solutions to promote the study and application of LA-MC-ICP-MS in isotopic determination.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the comments of three anonymous reviewers, which significantly helped to improve the manuscript, and to Prof. Renxu Chen for editorial handling of the manuscript. This study was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2019YFA0708400), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41927803), the MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology) Special Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources (No. MSFGPMR01), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No. 2020CFA045), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-023-2002-4.

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Correspondence to Yongsheng Liu.

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Lin, J., Yang, A., Lin, R. et al. Review on in situ Isotopic Analysis by LA-MC-ICP-MS. J. Earth Sci. 34, 1663–1691 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-023-2002-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-023-2002-4

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