Three-Dimensional Elemental Imaging of Nantan Meteorite via Femtosecond Laser Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Femtosecond laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (fs-LI-TOFMS) is introduced for the three-dimensional elemental analysis of a Nantan meteorite. Spatially resolved multielemental imaging of major and minor compositions in a meteorite are presented with a lateral resolution of 50 pm and a depth resolution of 7 mu m. Distinct 3D distributions of siderophile, lithophile, and chalcophile elements are revealed. Co and Ni are highly sidetophile (Iron loving), mainly enriched' in the metal phase. Cr, Cu, V, and Mn are enriched in the sulfide for their chalcopinle (S-loving) tendenq. S, P, and C aggregate together in the analytical volume. Silicate inclusion, containing lithophile elements of Al, Ca, Mg, K, and so on, is embedded-within the nietal phase for the immiscibility between silicate inclusion and the melted metal phase. These 3D distributions of elements aid the exploration of the formation and evolution of the meteorite. They also reveal the feasibility, of fs-LI-TOFMS as a versatile tool for 3D imaging.