A LA-ICP-MS for Planetary Science

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences

Abstract

Detailed analysis of samples from planetary bodies is central to understanding the story of our Earth and the wider Solar System. A huge range of specialised instruments have been developed to this end, and many of them are now used in much more immediate ways - seeking for resources, understanding our civilization's effect on the environment, tracing the pathways chemicals move through our bodies, causing and curing diseases. In each case, the most progress is made when multiple different techniques are used to understand a single sample. In addition, it is vital to extract the maximum amount of useful information from each analysis to understand its implications properly.

In Manchester we have a wide range of such specialised instrumentation, some of which is unique in the world because we have developed it ourselves. In this proposal, we seek to fund a technique that will complement our existing capabilities. This instrument uses a very short laser pulses to fragment spots in the surface of a sample that are smaller that a tenth of a millimetre. The fragments are carried by a gas flowing over the sample surface into a mass spectrometer that analyses the elements that were present. When the information from this technique is combined with the output from our other analytical techniques we will have a new and powerful way of studying the nature and sequence of processes that led from the condensation of the first dust in our solar system to the formation of planets like the Earth. We will also be able to understand how the surfaces of other planetary bodies, especially Mars and the Moon, formed and evolved through volcanic processes. Throughout Solar System history planetary bodies have been pummeled by asteroids and comets, and it is thought that these impacts brought volatile elements and precious metals to the early Earth- with this new technique we will be able to understand the nature of the material that has been added to the planets since their formation, and so better understand the events that made our planet habitable and, indeed, hospitable to complex life.

Planned Impact

This proposal aims to equip a group that specializes in the analysis of planetary materials with a new commercial instrument for the analysis of trace elements in solid materials. The problems faced in performing such analyses have much in common with similar problems encountered in a wide range of other disciplines, for instance detecting and studying environmental pollutants, understanding the formation of natural resources so they can be efficiently and sustainably identified and utilized, understanding the processing of elements in the human body and other living systems so that we can prevent or treat diseases. The group funded has a long track record of developing techniques motivated by research questions in planetary science that are now finding applications across this range of activities that deliver wider economic and societal benefit, and we would aim to develop the technique in a similar way. In addition, the instrument can produce rapid analyses of extraterrestrial material and thus allow us to develop planetary science research projects in partnership with local schools, introducing the principles of quantitative analytical science to the next generation.
 
Description The LA-ICP-MS system was commissioned at the end of 2019 for application in planetary science. Since then, we've developed various techniques to allow us to date rocks using the decay of uranium and thorium to lead isotopes in minerals such as zircon and apatite, and to measure amounts of trace elements metals and in silicate glasses. The first few publications based on these LA-ICP-MS dataset have been written and have begun to be published. We will continue developing innovative microanalytical protocols applied to Earth and Planetary Science topics, and develop collaborations across Environmental, Material, Biological, and Medical sciences
Exploitation Route As we develop new analytical approaches they may find applications related to trace element distributions in a range of samples. We are working with interested parties to develop some possibilities.
Sectors Environment

Healthcare

Other

 
Description Deciphering the impact record at different times and different scales on the Moon
Amount £597,585 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/Y002318/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2024 
End 09/2027
 
Description Planetary Science at The University of Manchester
Amount £2,079,552 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/V000675/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2021 
End 03/2024
 
Title Apatite U-Pb dating in Brachina meteorite 
Description Raw LA-ICP-MS apatite U-Pb data for meteorite Brachina. This folder contains: - a .csv file with raw ICP-MS data - an .xml file with ICP-MS metadata - a LaserLog.csv with laser log file - a .lase file with laser metadata 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Data related to publication 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Apatite_U-Pb_dating_in_Brachina_meteorite/2356613...
 
Title Carbonate U-Pb dating - martian meteorite ALH 84001 
Description Raw LA-ICP-MS carbonate U-Pb data for martian meteorite ALH 84001. This folder contains: - a .csv file with raw ICP-MS data - an .xml file with ICP-MS metadata - a LaserLog.csv with laser log file - a .lase file with laser metadata 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Carbonate_U-Pb_dating_-_martian_meteorite_ALH_840...
 
Title Zircon and monazite U-Pb dating - Ries impact crater 
Description Raw LA-ICP-MS zircon and monazite data for samples from basement rocks of the Ries crater. The analytical method used, instrument set up, and data processing workflow are described in the published paper "U-Pb dating of zircon and monazite from the uplifted Variscan crystalline basement of the Ries impact crater" (doi: 10.1111/maps.13798).For each studied sample, this folder contains:- a .csv file with raw ICP-MS data- an .xml file with ICP-MS metadata- a LaserLog.csv with laser log file- a .lase file with laser metadata 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Research paper published (https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.13798). 
URL https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Zircon_and_monazite_U-Pb_dating_-_Ries_impact_cra...