ICPMs technologies
 
 

The development of ICPMS technologies represents one of the most important and widely applicable analytical advances in the past two decades. Investigation of the fundamental processes occurring within inductively coupled plasmas and development of innovative and robust methodologies for both bulk and in situ analysis is one of our key research goals. We believe that some of our greatest strengths as a research group lie in the areas of low level Pb-isotope and trace element analysis by solution ICPMS and all forms of in situ analysis. Some of our recent contributions to ICPMS research are listed at the bottom of this page.


A great deal of effort over the past 10 years has focussed on the development of both laser ablation hardware (in collaboration with the Australian National University) and software . Our current ablation systems are characterised by rapid washout, efficient signal smoothing (when required), and the capability to measure large samples up to 10x10cm in size. The image below shows the Helex cell containing a large number of fossil teeth and bones, ready for reconnaissance ICPMS analysis prior to micro-drilling for U-series analysis.





 

Software has been developed in collaboration with Resonetics allowing both complex paths and long analytical sessions to be digitised. The screen shot below shows the software in action for a long zircon U-Pb run with multiple references to a variety of standards interspersed with the unknown analyses. A photo of the sample holder allows rapid location of any individual sample, prior to digitising using the high quality video output.

A major research  effort has also been invested in producing a generic software solution for reduction of laser ablation data. This software is available to the wider community as freeware. See our Iolite page for more details.


New methodologies:


Paul, B., Paton, C., Norris, A., Woodhead, J., Hergt, J., Greig, A (2012) CellSpace: a module for creating spatially registered laser ablation images within the Iolite freeware environment. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 27, 700-706.


McGregor, H., Hellstrom, J.C., Fink, D., Hua, Q., and Woodroffe, C.D. (2011) Rapid U-series dating of young fossil corals by laser ablation MC-ICPMS. Quaternary Geochronology, 6, 195-206.


Paul, B., Woodhead, J.D., Hergt, J., Danyushevsky, L., Kunihiro, T and Nakamura, E (2011) Melt inclusion Pb-isotope analysis by LA-MC-ICPMS: assessment of analytical performance and application to OIB genesis. Chemical Geology, 289, 210-223.


Paton, C., Hellstrom, J., Paul, B., Woodhead, J and Hergt, J (2011) Iolite: Freeware for the visualisation and processing of mass spectrometer data. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 26, 2508-2518.


Ulrich, T., Kamber, B.S., Woodhead, J.D. & Spencer, L.A. (2010) Long-term observations of isotope ratio accuracy and reproducibility using quadrupole ICP-MS. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research 34, 161-174.


Paton, C., J. D. Woodhead, J. C. Hellstrom, J. M. Hergt, A. Greig, and R. Maas (2010), Improved laser ablation U-Pb zircon geochronology through robust downhole fractionation correction, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 11, Q0AA06, doi:10.1029/2009GC002618


Hellstrom, J., Paton, C., Woodhead, J and Hergt, J (2008) Iolite: software for spatially resolved LA-(quad and MC) ICPMS analysis. Mineralogical Association of Canada short course series 40 , 343-348.


Woodhead, J.D., Hergt, J.M., Meffre, S., Large, R.R., Danyushevsky, L & Gilbert, S (2009) In situ Pb-isotope analysis of pyrite by laser ablation (multi-collector and quadrupole) ICPMS. Chemical Geology in press.


Woodhead, J., Hergt, J., Shelley, M., Eggins, S & Kemp, R (2004) Zircon Hf-isotope analysis with an excimer laser, depth profiling, ablation of complex geometries, and concomitant age estimation. Chemical Geology 209, 121-135.


Woodhead, J., Swearer, S.,Hergt, J & Maas, R (2005) In situ Sr-isotope analysis of carbonates by LA-MC-ICP-MS: interference corrections, high spatial resolution and an example from otolith studies. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 20, 22-27


Paton, C., Woodhead, J.D., Hergt, J.M., Phillips, D., & Shee, S (2007) Strontium Isotope Analysis of Kimberlitic Groundmass Perovskite via LA-MC-ICP-MS Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research 31, 321-330.


Paul, B., Woodhead, J. & Hergt, J (2005) Improved in situ analysis of low-Pb materials using LA-MC-ICP-MS with parallel ion counter and Faraday detection. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 20, 1350-1357.


Woodhead, J., Hellstrom, J., Hergt, J., Greig, A. & Maas, R (2007) Isotopic and elemental imaging of geological materials by laser ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma mass spectrometry. Journal of Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 31, 331-343.


Woodhead, J., Hellstrom, J., Paton, C., Hergt, J., Greig, A., and Maas, R (2008) A guide to depth profiling and imaging applications of ICPMS. Mineralogical Association of Canada short course series 40, 135-145.


Characterisation of reference materials for in situ analysis:


Jochum, K.P., Wilson, S.A., Abouchami, W., Amini, M., Chmeleff, J., Eisenhauer, A., Hegner, E., Iaccheri, L.M., Kieffer, B., Krause, J., McDonough, W.F., Mertz-Kraus, R., Raczek, I., Rudnick, R.L., Scholz, D., Steinhoefel, G., Stoll, B., Stracke, A., Tonarinin, S., Weis, D., Weis, U & Woodhead, J.D. (2011) GSD-1G and MPI-DING Reference glasses for in situ and bulk isotopic determination. Gestandards and Geoanalytical Research, 35, 193-226.


Woodhead, J. D. & Hergt, J.M. (2001). Strontium, neodymium and lead isotope analyses of NIST glass certified reference materials: SRM 610, 612, 614. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research 25, 261-266


Woodhead, J.D. & Hergt, J.M (2005) A preliminary appraisal of seven natural zircon reference materials for in situ Hf-isotope determination. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research 29, 183-195.


Jochum, K-P., Pfänder, J., Woodhead, J.D., Willbold, M.,  Stoll, B., Herwig, K., Amini, M., Abouchami, W and Hofmann, A.W. (2005) MPI-DING glasses: New geological reference materials for in situ Pb isotope analysis. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 6, Q10008.


Jochum, K-P et al. (50 co-authors including Woodhead, J.D.) MPI-DING glasses for in-situ microanalysis: new reference values for elemental concentrations and isotope ratios. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, Q02008