The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry

Lloyd, Jarred C.; Spandler, Carl; Gilbert, Sarah E.; Hasterok, Derrick

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-265-2025

Articles | Volume 7, issue 3

https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-265-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-265-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 7, issue 3

Research article

|

05 Aug 2025

Research article |

| 05 Aug 2025

The quantification of down-hole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry

Jarred C. Lloyd, Carl Spandler, Sarah E. Gilbert, and Derrick Hasterok

Data sets

Raw and derived data: The quantification of downhole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry J. C. Lloyd and S. Gilbert https://doi.org/10.25909/26778298

Supplementary analyte signal figures - The quantification of downhole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry J. C. Lloyd https://doi.org/10.25909/26778592.v1

Supplementary Figures - The quantification of downhole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry J. C. Lloyd https://doi.org/10.25909/27041821

Model code and software

Julia scripts - The quantification of downhole fractionation for laser ablation mass spectrometry J. C. Lloyd https://doi.org/10.25909/26779255.v3

GeochemistryTools.jl: v0.0.3-dev J. C. Lloyd https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16624256

Short summary

Laser-based dating of rocks and minerals is invaluable in geoscience. This study significantly advances our ability to model and correct for a process called down-hole fractionation (DHF) that impacts the accuracy and uncertainty of dates. We develop an algorithm that quantitatively models DHF patterns but can be used on other geoscientific data. The implications are far-reaching: improved accuracy, reduced uncertainty, and easier comparisons between different samples and laboratories.