Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of silicate, vanadate and sulfide rocks.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in air at atmospheric pressure has been used to study four geological samples belonging to different structural families. Atomic emission spectra of vanadinite, pyrite, garnet and a type of quartz (compostela's quartz) are shown. The 532 nm line of a Nd:YAG laser at an irradiance of 18 x 10(11) W cm(-2) was used. The precise focus of the beam allowed microanalysis of a 0.02 mm(2) surface area working in single-laser shot mode. The use of an intensified gateable charge-coupled-device (CCD) detector permitted time-resolved studies. The spectral lines have been assigned to transitions in the neutral charge state of the corresponding atom of the material under investigation. The behavior of different transitions with time delay are shown. In experiments, minor components contained in several minerals have been detected. This fact has been used to demonstrate the applicability of the technique to characterize and identify similar minerals.