The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry

<p>Down-hole fractionation (DHF), a known phenomenon in static spot laser ablation, remains one of the most significant sources of uncertainty for laser-based geochronology. A given DHF pattern is unique to a set of conditions, including material, inter-element analyte pair, laser conditions,...

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Main Authors: J. C. Lloyd, C. Spandler, S. E. Gilbert, D. Hasterok
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-08-01
Series:Geochronology
Online Access:https://gchron.copernicus.org/articles/7/265/2025/gchron-7-265-2025.pdf
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author J. C. Lloyd
J. C. Lloyd
C. Spandler
S. E. Gilbert
D. Hasterok
author_facet J. C. Lloyd
J. C. Lloyd
C. Spandler
S. E. Gilbert
D. Hasterok
author_sort J. C. Lloyd
collection DOAJ
description <p>Down-hole fractionation (DHF), a known phenomenon in static spot laser ablation, remains one of the most significant sources of uncertainty for laser-based geochronology. A given DHF pattern is unique to a set of conditions, including material, inter-element analyte pair, laser conditions, and spot geometry. Current modelling methods (simple or multiple linear regression, spline-based regression) for DHF do not readily lend themselves to uncertainty propagation, nor do they allow for quantitative inter-session comparison, let alone inter-laboratory or inter-material comparison.</p> <p>In this study, we investigate the application of orthogonal polynomial decomposition for quantitative modelling of LA-ICP-MS DHF patterns. We outline the algorithm used to compute the models, apply it to an exemplar U–Pb dataset across a range of materials and analytical sessions, and finally provide a brief interpretation of the resulting data.</p> <p>In this contribution we demonstrate the feasibility of quantitative modelling and comparison of DHF patterns from multiple materials across multiple sessions. We utilise a relatively new data visualisation method, uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP), to help visualise the data relationships in this large dataset while comparing it to more traditional methods of data visualisation.</p> <p>The algorithm presented in this research advances our capability to accurately model LA-ICP-MS DHF and may facilitate reliable decoupling of the DHF correction for non-matrix-matched materials, lead to improved uncertainty propagation, and facilitate inter-laboratory comparison studies of DHF patterns.</p> <p>The generalised nature of the algorithm means it is applicable not only to geochronology but also more broadly within the geosciences where predictable linear (<span class="inline-formula"><i>x</i></span>-to-<span class="inline-formula"><i>y</i></span>) relationships exist.</p>
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spelling doaj-art-097dfcf952c64441848b0fa7e54c09e72025-08-20T03:23:34ZengCopernicus PublicationsGeochronology2628-36972628-37192025-08-01726528710.5194/gchron-7-265-2025The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometryJ. C. Lloyd0J. C. Lloyd1C. Spandler2S. E. Gilbert3D. Hasterok4Department of Earth Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AustraliaGeological Survey of South Australia, Department for Energy and Mining, Government of South Australia, Adelaide, AustraliaDepartment of Earth Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AustraliaAdelaide Microscopy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, AustraliaDepartment of Earth Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia<p>Down-hole fractionation (DHF), a known phenomenon in static spot laser ablation, remains one of the most significant sources of uncertainty for laser-based geochronology. A given DHF pattern is unique to a set of conditions, including material, inter-element analyte pair, laser conditions, and spot geometry. Current modelling methods (simple or multiple linear regression, spline-based regression) for DHF do not readily lend themselves to uncertainty propagation, nor do they allow for quantitative inter-session comparison, let alone inter-laboratory or inter-material comparison.</p> <p>In this study, we investigate the application of orthogonal polynomial decomposition for quantitative modelling of LA-ICP-MS DHF patterns. We outline the algorithm used to compute the models, apply it to an exemplar U–Pb dataset across a range of materials and analytical sessions, and finally provide a brief interpretation of the resulting data.</p> <p>In this contribution we demonstrate the feasibility of quantitative modelling and comparison of DHF patterns from multiple materials across multiple sessions. We utilise a relatively new data visualisation method, uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP), to help visualise the data relationships in this large dataset while comparing it to more traditional methods of data visualisation.</p> <p>The algorithm presented in this research advances our capability to accurately model LA-ICP-MS DHF and may facilitate reliable decoupling of the DHF correction for non-matrix-matched materials, lead to improved uncertainty propagation, and facilitate inter-laboratory comparison studies of DHF patterns.</p> <p>The generalised nature of the algorithm means it is applicable not only to geochronology but also more broadly within the geosciences where predictable linear (<span class="inline-formula"><i>x</i></span>-to-<span class="inline-formula"><i>y</i></span>) relationships exist.</p>https://gchron.copernicus.org/articles/7/265/2025/gchron-7-265-2025.pdf
spellingShingle J. C. Lloyd
J. C. Lloyd
C. Spandler
S. E. Gilbert
D. Hasterok
The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry
Geochronology
title The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry
title_full The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry
title_fullStr The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry
title_full_unstemmed The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry
title_short The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry
title_sort quantification of down hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry
url https://gchron.copernicus.org/articles/7/265/2025/gchron-7-265-2025.pdf
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