Increasing resolution in chemical mapping of geomaterials: From X-ray fluorescence to laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) micro-mapping is an important analytical tool for the study of geomaterials. In this work, this technique was applied, for the first time, to the analysis of alkali-activated materials and geopolymers, as well as rocks, mortars and bricks. The results obtained were compared with the ones obtained using Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) macro-mapping and the advantages of the LIBS approach (speed, lateral and in-depth resolution, capability of light elements analysis) were highlighted. The issues associated with the quantitative determination of the samples' composition from the analysis of the LIBS spectra were also briefly discussed.