NEW TECHNIQUES OF MAJOR AND MINOR ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS IN INDIVIDUAL FLUID INCLUSION --LASER ABLATION INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETRY (LA-ICP-MS)

A combination of the laser ablation technique and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP MS) has been used for the quantitative analysis of major and minor element in individual fluid inclusion. It has become a powerful tool in studies of fluid inclusion owing to its high sensitivity, low detection limits and a large dynamic line range. Combining with the studies in the authors' laboratory, the microanalysis technique of fluid inclusion is described in detail including the configuration of LA ICP MS, the designs of ablation cell, ablation technique of fluid inclusion, the elemental fractionation, quantitative calibration procedures and the application to the physical and chemical mechanism of ore precipitation. The strengths, limitations and future developments of LA ICP MS microanalysis techniques in fluid inclusion are discussed.