Located in Memorial University's Bruneau Centre, the laboratory specializes in the direct analysis of biological, geological or industrial materials for trace element microanalyses.

The solid material is sampled directly by a laser system coupled to either a Thermo ELEMENT XR ICPMS for general trace element analyses and U-Pb geochronology applications or a Thermo NEPTUNE Multicollector ICPMS for precise isotope ratio analyses.

Housing two ICPMS in the same lab allows split-stream measurements to be performed, where analyses are done simultaneously by both instruments on a given sample (e.g., U-Pb geochronology and Hf isotopic ratios from the same laser spot in zircon).

• Astronomy and Physics
• Biological and Life Sciences
• Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Environmental and Earth Sciences
• Marine/Ocean Sciences

• Mining, Minerals and Metals

For in situ sampling of solid biological, geological or industrial materials by ablating a spot at a particular location of interest or by ablating a line raster across the sample surface. 

• 193 nm excimer laser
• 4 to 150 micron aperture beam size
• Sample cell holder accomodates 25 mm or 10 mm round polished epoxy mounts or petrographic thin sections

General trace element analyses in various minerals (silicates, carbonates, phosphates, oxides and sulfides), silicate glasses, and other materials ranging from otoliths to metals. Also used for U-Pb geochronology applications. Used exclusively with the laser for solid samples in this facility.

• Low, medium and high mass resolution capability 
• Additional Faraday detector allows a large linear dynamic range

High precision isotopic ratio analyses (e.g., Hf isotopes in zircons, Nd isotopes in accessory minerals). Can be used with the laser for solid samples or for solution samples that have gone through column chemistry.

• Low, medium and high mass resolution capability
• Additional multi-ion counter detector package