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Laser-Assisted Atom Probe Tomography of Deformed Minerals: A Zircon Case Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2017

Alexandre La Fontaine ,
Sandra Piazolo ,
Patrick Trimby ,
Limei Yang  and
Julie M. Cairney
Alexandre La Fontaine*
Affiliation:
School of Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Sandra Piazolo
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
Patrick Trimby
Affiliation:
Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Limei Yang
Affiliation:
Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Julie M. Cairney
Affiliation:
School of Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. alex.lafontaine@sydney.edu.au
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Abstract

The application of atom probe tomography to the study of minerals is a rapidly growing area. Picosecond-pulsed, ultraviolet laser (UV-355 nm) assisted atom probe tomography has been used to analyze trace element mobility within dislocations and low-angle boundaries in plastically deformed specimens of the nonconductive mineral zircon (ZrSiO4), a key material to date the earth’s geological events. Here we discuss important experimental aspects inherent in the atom probe tomography investigation of this important mineral, providing insights into the challenges in atom probe tomography characterization of minerals as a whole. We studied the influence of atom probe tomography analysis parameters on features of the mass spectra, such as the thermal tail, as well as the overall data quality. Three zircon samples with different uranium and lead content were analyzed, and particular attention was paid to ion identification in the mass spectra and detection limits of the key trace elements, lead and uranium. We also discuss the correlative use of electron backscattered diffraction in a scanning electron microscope to map the deformation in the zircon grains, and the combined use of transmission Kikuchi diffraction and focused ion beam sample preparation to assist preparation of the final atom probe tip.

Keywords

atom probe tomographymineral zirconslead detectiondeformationdislocationsTKD
Type
Materials Science (Nonmetals)
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 23 , Special Issue 2: Atom Probe Tomography & Microscopy 2016 , April 2017 , pp. 404 - 413
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2017 

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