Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) on Geological Samples: Compositional Differentiation
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MRS Advances © 2018 Materials Research Society DOI: 10.1557/adv.2018.401
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) on Geological Samples: Compositional Differentiation S.N. Panya panya1,2, A.H. Galmed1,2,4, M. Maaza1,2, B.M. Mothudi3, M. A. Harith4, J. Kennedy5 1
UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanoscience-Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk Ridge, P O BOX 392, Pretoria, South Africa
2
Materials Research Division (MRD), NRF- iThemba LABS, 1 Old Faure Road, Somerset West, 7129, Cape Town, South Africa
3
Physics Department, University of South Africa (UNISA), Muckleneuk Ridge, P O BOX 392, Pretoria, South Africa
4
National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), Cairo University, Cairo University, 1 Gamaa street, Giza, Egypt.
5
National Isotope Centre, GNS Science, 30 Gracefield Road, P O BOX 31312, Lower Hutt, 5010, New Zealand
Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Abstract
LIBS is a developing analytical technique, which is used to perform qualitative and semiquantitative elemental analysis of materials (solid, liquid and gas). Recently LIBS became an attractive technique to be used for geological samples, due to its advantages such as fast data collection and the lack of sample preparation. This study is done to improve analytical methods for geochemical analysis of samples during different exploration phases (Mining, filed analysis, etc.), to be used in the future as a real-time analysis method to save money and time spent in labs. In this work, LIBS has been used to differentiate between some geological samples gathered from different areas: South Africa and Namibia. Using principal component analysis (PCA), it was found that LIBS was able to differentiate between the samples even those of the same area. The results from the LIBS technique were correlated with subsequent analysis of the same samples by Particle-Induced X-ray emission (PIXE).
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INTRODUCTION The LIBS technique is a useful tool to analyse, detect and measure the chemical composition of a wide range of samples in solids, liquids, or gases by spectrally analysing the light emitted from a plasma that is created from the target [1]. LIBS has unique characteristics that have potential to transform geo-analysis and discriminate between materials: (1) No necessary sample preparation allowing rapid analysis of thousands of samples; (2) because LIBS is a point detection tool it provides a mechanism to analyse small regions (20 – 100 µm diameter). Also allows whole rock analysis which can be obtainable by averaging the spectra taken across the surface of the sample; (3) standoff or close-in detection; (4) real-time response [2, 3]. It is important to note that the old traditional methods will not be substituted by LIBS but rather LIBS will open new
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