Laser-Ablation-ICPMS in the Earth Sciences

摘要

Advances in geochemistry are often tied to technologic innovations that allow the analyst to make increasingly precise measurements within the periodic table. Analytic techniques have life cycles, some short, some long, hut all eventually subsumed by faster; cheaper; more precise upstarts. A sort of technologic Darwinism prevails. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA)-ICP-MS (the reader is at liberty to liberally add or subtract hyphens to the acronym) appears to be entering the early stages of maturity, judging from the publication of this new book. The book is the outcome of a short course held at Memorial University, Newfoundland, where substantive research and development of LA-ICP-MS has taken place over the last decade. Not surprisingly, the 14 chapters and three appendices covering the basics of the technique and some recent applications in the earth sciences have a strong Newfoundland influence.The book is well balanced, with eight chapters covering theory and some practical analytical considerations and six chapters focused on specific applications of the laser ablation technique.