Major Applications of the UCLA IMS-1270

Major Applications (UCLA ims 1270)
Geochronology Stable Isotopes
U-Pb
  • zircon
  • uraninite
C
  • carbonates
  • organic matter
Th-Pb
  • monazite
  • allanite
O
  • silicates
  • carbonate
  • uraninite
Th-U
  • zircon
  • allanite
S
  • carbonate
  • sulphides
  • sulphates
B
  • glass
  • mica
  • tourmaline
Mg
  • silicates
Pb
  • glass
  • feldspar
Ion Imaging/Depth Profiling Trace Elements
Various materials and isotopes Various materials and isotopes

Applications

Two broad applications have been developed for the ims 1270, a large-radius, triple-focusing mass spectrometer: U-Th-Pb measurements of accessory minerals, and stable isotopic analysis of insulators.

U-Th-Pb analysis

U-Th-Pb analysis is conducted using a beam of negative oxygen ions that can be focused to spots from 1 to 30µm on 1" polished thin sections or grain mounts. A slit-lens transfer optical system and the 585mm radius magnet achieve high secondary ion transmission at the mass resolving power of ~5,000 required for these analysis. Isotopic ratios are measured by rapid peak-switching in to a pulse-counting electron multiplier. Measurements of U-Th-Pb systematics of zircon [e.g. X. Quidelleur et al., The thermal evolution and slip history of the Renbu Zedong Thrust, southeastern Tibet. J. Geophys. Res. 1997] and monazite [e.g., Harrison et al., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 133, 271, 1995] yield high Pb sensitivities (up to 20 cps/ppm/Pb/nA) and typical age accuracy of ±2%.

Oxygen and Carbon Stable Isotope Analysis

Stable isotope measurements of oxygen and carbon in insulating specimens are undertaken using a Cs+ primary beam which can be focused to a diameter between 0.2 and 30µm. Carbonates and silicates, for example, have yielded typical δ18O precisions of 1.0‰ for 10 min analysis times and, typically, 15µm diameter analysis areas [e.g. L.A. Leshin et al., The oxygen isotopic composition of olivine and pyroxene from CI chondrites. Geochim. Cosmchim. Acta 1997]. The same precision has been obtained for δ13C in carbonates under similar analytical conditions.