Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Spectroscopic instruments were a part of payloads on orbiter and lander missions and delivered vast data sets to explore minerals, elements and molecules on air-less rocky planets, asteroids and comets on global and local scales. To answer current space science questions, the chemical composition of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Universe |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/8/410 |
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| author | Marek Tulej Peter Keresztes Schmidt Salome Gruchola Coenraad P. de Koning Kristina A. Kipfer Nikita J. Boeren Niels F. W. Ligterink Andreas Riedo Peter Wurz |
| author_facet | Marek Tulej Peter Keresztes Schmidt Salome Gruchola Coenraad P. de Koning Kristina A. Kipfer Nikita J. Boeren Niels F. W. Ligterink Andreas Riedo Peter Wurz |
| author_sort | Marek Tulej |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spectroscopic instruments were a part of payloads on orbiter and lander missions and delivered vast data sets to explore minerals, elements and molecules on air-less rocky planets, asteroids and comets on global and local scales. To answer current space science questions, the chemical composition of planetary rocks and soils at grain scale is required, as well as measurements of element (isotope) concentrations down to the part per million or lower. Only mass spectrometric methods equipped with laser sampling ion sources can deliver the necessary information. Laser sampling techniques can reduce the dimensions of the investigated sample material down to micrometre scale, allowing for the composition analysis of grain-sized objects or thin mineral layers with sufficiently high spatial resolution, such that important geological processes can be recognised and studied as they progressed in time. We describe the performance characteristics, when applied to meteorite and geological samples, of a miniaturised laser ablation/ionisation mass spectrometer (named LMS) system that has been developed in our group. The main advantages of the LMS instrument over competing techniques are illustrated by examples of high spatial (lateral and vertical) resolution studies in different meteorites, terrestrial minerals and fossil-like structures in ancient rocks for most elements of geochemical interest. Top-level parameters, such as dimension, weight, and power consumption of a possible flight design of the LMS system are presented as well. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:44:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6212926ea71e4812807d51ca55ac5251 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-1997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:44:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Universe |
| spelling | doaj.art-6212926ea71e4812807d51ca55ac52512023-12-03T14:36:14ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972022-08-018841010.3390/universe8080410Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass SpectrometryMarek Tulej0Peter Keresztes Schmidt1Salome Gruchola2Coenraad P. de Koning3Kristina A. Kipfer4Nikita J. Boeren5Niels F. W. Ligterink6Andreas Riedo7Peter Wurz8Space Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpace Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpace Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpace Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpace Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpace Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpace Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpace Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpace Research and Planetary Sciences, Physics Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandSpectroscopic instruments were a part of payloads on orbiter and lander missions and delivered vast data sets to explore minerals, elements and molecules on air-less rocky planets, asteroids and comets on global and local scales. To answer current space science questions, the chemical composition of planetary rocks and soils at grain scale is required, as well as measurements of element (isotope) concentrations down to the part per million or lower. Only mass spectrometric methods equipped with laser sampling ion sources can deliver the necessary information. Laser sampling techniques can reduce the dimensions of the investigated sample material down to micrometre scale, allowing for the composition analysis of grain-sized objects or thin mineral layers with sufficiently high spatial resolution, such that important geological processes can be recognised and studied as they progressed in time. We describe the performance characteristics, when applied to meteorite and geological samples, of a miniaturised laser ablation/ionisation mass spectrometer (named LMS) system that has been developed in our group. The main advantages of the LMS instrument over competing techniques are illustrated by examples of high spatial (lateral and vertical) resolution studies in different meteorites, terrestrial minerals and fossil-like structures in ancient rocks for most elements of geochemical interest. Top-level parameters, such as dimension, weight, and power consumption of a possible flight design of the LMS system are presented as well.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/8/410planetary explorationin situ chemical analysischemical mappingmineral crystallisationLIMSminiature mass analyser |
| spellingShingle | Marek Tulej Peter Keresztes Schmidt Salome Gruchola Coenraad P. de Koning Kristina A. Kipfer Nikita J. Boeren Niels F. W. Ligterink Andreas Riedo Peter Wurz Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Universe planetary exploration in situ chemical analysis chemical mapping mineral crystallisation LIMS miniature mass analyser |
| title | Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry |
| title_full | Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry |
| title_fullStr | Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry |
| title_short | Towards In-Situ Geochemical Analysis of Planetary Rocks and Soils by Laser Ablation/Ionisation Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry |
| title_sort | towards in situ geochemical analysis of planetary rocks and soils by laser ablation ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry |
| topic | planetary exploration in situ chemical analysis chemical mapping mineral crystallisation LIMS miniature mass analyser |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/8/410 |
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