AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Tuesday Sessions
       Session AS+SS-TuM

Invited Paper AS+SS-TuM1
Time-of-Flight SIMS in the Earth and Planetary Sciences

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 8:00 am, Room 2005

Session: Environmental Materials and X-ray Spectroscopies
Presenter: E.P. Vicenzi, Smithsonian Institution
Authors: E.P. Vicenzi, Smithsonian Institution
D. Rost, Smithsonian Institution
Correspondent: Click to Email
Spatially-resolved chemical analysis of geological materials is typically performed by techniques that can best be described as near-surface methods, e.g. electron beam-induced X-ray microanalysis, or, laser ablation ICP-MS. A limited number of studies in recent years made use of legitimately surface sensitive techniques, such as Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. The full mass spectrum imaging capability of ToF-SIMS has proved advantageous for extracting a high information content relative to the amount of sample consumed. The high information/sample mass ratios are particularly beneficial, even demanded in some cases, for the examination of extraterrestrial specimens. Over the past several years we have applied ToF-SIMS to the study of Martian meteorite specimens, particularly the alteration phases that formed in an aqueous environment at low temperatures. Through the analysis of these micrometer to submicrometer structures we have begun to address issues regarding the nature of fluid that flowed beneath the surface of Mars, as well as the number of fluid pulses that infiltrated rocks near the surface of the planet. Although no terrestrial analogues for the Martian meteorites are known, we will present results regarding the redistribution of the ultralight elements Li and B in similar Earth rocks by water-rich fluid alteration. NASAâ?Ts highly successful STARDUST mission recently (January, 2006) returned the first samples of a comet to Earth, and is providing space science researchers with a first-hand look at some of the oldest material in the solar system. We anticipate receiving aliquots of Stardust from the curation facility at Johnson Space Center in mid 2006 and will report on our initial findings of this ultra-precious material.