ICP-MS Laboratory

Michigan State University
https://ees.natsci.msu.edu/about/facilities/icp-ms-laboratory/

Contact Information

Lina C. Patino

517-432-3100 ext 138

patinoL@msu.edu

East Lansing

MICHIGAN

Instrument Type

WHOLE ROCK ANALYSIS - ICP Inductively-coupled plasma spectrometer +/- mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and laser source

Micromass (GV) Platform ICP-MS

Application:

Whole-rock analysis (major and trace element)

Typical Use:

The ICP-MS Laboratory is a University-wide facility managed by the Department of Geological Sciences. Our most common applications in geology use concentric nebulizer (for digested lake sediments and waters) and laser ablation (for fused XRF rock glass disks, minerals, and volcanic glasses). We routinely analyze trace elements used for low temperature and high temperature geochemical modeling.

Conditions for Use:

Submitted samples will be analyzed on a contract basis (i.e. lab personnel will do the work).
Visitors are invited to work in the lab to work with lab personnel.

User Fees:

Charges will be made based on the user needs

Instrument Priorities:

All users are welcome

Remote Use:

No

Sample Preparation:

Solutions: should be stored in acid cleaned Nalgene bottles in 2% to 5% HNO3 solution. At least 5 mL are needed.
Rocks: low dilution fused glass disks (3:9 sample: flux) work best. Disks need to be kept dehydrated (in desiccators). Usually these analyses are done in conjunction with XRF to determine trace element concentrations. We need to know the concentration of at least one element in the sample.
Mineral and Volcanic Glass: minimum spot analysis is 25 microns. We need to know the concentration of at least one element in the sample.

Standard Collections/Lab Blanks:

Solutions: standards prepared from standard solutions, with matrix match. The user needs to bring a blank from their lab.
Rocks: USGS and Japanese standards are used to generate calibration lines. If samples are prepared at the user's lab, he/she should bring standards.
Mineral and volcanic glass: NIST and USGS standards are used

Software:

Data output will be in Excel or TXT format.

Educational Use:

Undergraduate student research projects are invited.
Graduate student research projects are invited.


Support provided by:

MSU and Alumni from Department of Geological Sciences