Quantum mechanics

Remote sensing

Mineral exploration

Paleontology

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Mineral

Characterization (materials science)

Physics

Geology

Context (archaeology)

Nanotechnology

Geochemistry

Materials science

Environmental science

Metallurgy

Earth science

Spectroscopy

Minerals

The mineral exploration industry requires new methods and tools to address the challenges of declining mineral reserves and increasing discovery costs. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) represents an emerging geochemical tool for mineral exploration that can provide rapid, in situ, compositional analysis and high-resolution imaging in both laboratory and field and settings. We demonstrate through a review of previously published research and our new results how LIBS can be applied to qualitative element detection for geochemical fingerprinting, sample classification, and discrimination, as well as quantitative geochemical analysis, rock characterization by grain size analysis, and in situ geochemical imaging. LIBS can detect elements with low atomic number (i.e., light elements), some of which are important pathfinder elements for mineral exploration and/or are classified as critical commodities for emerging green technologies. LIBS data can be acquired in situ, facilitating the interpretation of ge...

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy—An Emerging Analytical Tool for Mineral Exploration