Utility of ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MS

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is principally used for rapid, precise and accurate trace element (<1000 ppm) determinations in liquid and solid samples, but other applications include isotopic determinations and speciation studies.

The power of modern ICP-MS resides in its ability to rapidly measure trace elements at very low detection limits (to sub parts per trillion levels) as well as minor and major elements (at parts per million levels) in the same analytical run on suitably diluted samples.

Here you can find information about:

• Laboratory analytical resources available for determining major, minor, trace, and ultra-trace cation concentrations in a variety of sample types – both liquids and solids
• Sample preparation and project considerations for solution and laser ablation analytical modes
• Educational courses for learning ICP-MS/LA-ICP-MS fundamentals and applications
• Lab policies, collaborative research
• Sample information forms for submitting samples
• Research the laboratory supports and related publications
• Where we’re located and contact info

Please contact the lab in advance if you are interested in analytical services and before submitting any samples.

LAB NEWS

FALL 2025

Close-in and far-out

A decade in the making, the Quadrupole ICP-MS Lab moved to a larger renovated space in the Molecular Biology Building (MBB 1.318), a 580-step walk from JGB. The newly named Texas PEACE Core or PEACE Lab (Plasma Elemental Analysis CorE) features new state-of-the-art ICP-QQQ instrumentation and teaching space.

Lab Supported Research Presented at GSA San Antonio

This year, the Geological Society of America meeting took place in San Antonio. 8 presentations by JSG researchers featured analytical work performed in the PEACE Lab.

See presentations and archived lab news here.