Application of High Spatial Resolution Laser Ablation ICP‐MS to Crystal‐Melt Trace Element Partition Coefficient Determination

Abstract

In this contribution we evaluate the capabilities of laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) using a 12 μm spot size. Precision, accuracy and detection limits were assessed on the USGS BCR‐2G reference material. We demonstrate that the 12 μm LA‐ICP‐MS analyses of experimentally‐grown amphibole and garnet are in excellent agreement with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) trace element determinations on the same crystals. The 12 μm spot size configuration was subsequently used to determine trace element crystal‐melt partition coefficients (Dc/m) for a wide range of trace elements in amphibole in equilibrium with a basanitic melt. The following strategy to determine accurately and evaluate Dc/m is proposed. One or more major elements determined previously by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) was used to ensure consistency between EPMA and the composition of the aerosol produced by the laser ablation. Measured Dc/m values were successively evaluated using the lattice strain model. The use of this strategy significantly improved the precision and accuracy of Dc/m determination when a LA‐ICP‐MS configuration with a high spatial resolution was employed.