Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is a powerful but very sensitive method + is useful for trace metal analysis, especially at very low levels of concentration + it’s used in forensic analysis for criminal investigations + biology + environmental scienecs + material sciences + geosciences + mineralogy + recently in gemology to determine the origin of a gemstone based on unusual elements or the pattern of elements in its chemical makeup + treated and untreated gem materials + new and rare gemstones (pezzottaite from Madagascar/Burma, tourmalines from Paraiba (Brazil), Nigeria, Mozambique), musgravite, taaffeite, etc) + pearls + each LA-ICP-MS analysis produces a large quantity of raw data, which has to be processed to have quantitative chemical analyses of gemstones + it’s expensive with high operation/maintenance costs + requires specialists for its operation.
Useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductively_coupled_plasma_mass_spectrometry
http://www.si.edu/mci/downloads/reports/ICP-Dussubieux.pdf
http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/gem-identification.htm
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