Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis of complex silicate minerals—beryl

Abstract

Beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) is a chemically complex and highly compositionally variable gem-forming mineral found in a variety of geologic settings worldwide. A methodology and analytical protocol were developed for the analysis of beryl by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) that minimizes the coefficient of variance for multiple analyses of the same specimen. The parameters considered were laser energy/pulse, time delay and crystallographic orientation. Optimal analytical conditions are a laser energy/pulse of 102 mJ and a time delay of 2 micros. Beryl compositions measured parallel and perpendicular to the c axis were identical within analytical error. LIBS analysis of 96 beryls from 16 countries (Afghanistan, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Norway, Russia, Tanzania and United States), Antarctica, and ten US states (AZ, CA, CO, CT, ID, ME, NC, NH, NM and UT) were undertaken to determine whether or not LIBS analysis can be used to determine the provenance of gem beryl.

Detection of multiple elements in coal samples from Bangladesh by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

“…In this technique, a high-power pulsed laser is focused on the sample to generate a high-temperature transient micro-plasma, and a high-resolution spectrometer in conjunction with a gated ICCD or CCD is used to analyze the light emitted from it. This technique has found many applications in diverse fields such as industries [4,5], environmental monitoring [6], Mars exploration [7], coal and mineral analysis [8][9][10], etc.…”

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy-based geochemical fingerprinting for the rapid analysis and discrimination of minerals: the example of garnet

“…This study is a contribution to a long-term effort to examine the potential of using LIBS for geological material discrimination. It builds directly on the work undertaken in the Army Research Laboratory spectroscopy laboratory since 2004 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] that has been directed toward exploiting the unique potential that LIBS has for real-time geochemical "fingerprinting." For example, the ability to identify the geographic source area of gem minerals is one way of determining if a stone may have originated from a politically unstable area.…”

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: Capabilities and Applications

“…ARL has used LIBS for the detection of Halon alternative agents (19,20), tested a field-portable LIBS system for the detection of lead in soil and paint (10), studied the spectral emission of aluminum and aluminum oxide from bulk aluminum in different bath gases (21), performed kinetic modeling of LIBS plumes (22)(23)(24)(25), and demonstrated the detection and discrimination of geological materials (18,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31), plastic landmines (32,33), explosives (34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42), and chemical and biological warfare agent surrogates (43)(44)(45)(46)(47). ARL has also published a number of reviews on LIBS (8,(48)(49)(50)(51)(52).…”

“…source (geographic region, local area, or specific mine) of beryl (27,28,30,31) and garnet (78) gemstones. Other promising potential applications for LIBS yet to be explored include the determination of the geographic origin of food, clothing, and other manufactured goods, as well as illicit substances such as drugs, counterfeit goods, and laundered money.…”