This aspect is highly significant when one seeks to look for elements which are found in minimal quantities in a sample as is often the case of REEs in meteorites. In addition to all these features, what makes LIBS stand out as the most-suited technique for meteorite studies is its capability of identifying even the elements which are present in the sample as trace elements. Moreover, in comparison to conventional techniques, LIBS offers several advantages such as precision, low cost, rapidity, portability, low destructivity and lack of waste production. The significance of this technique is due to its wide range of application, versatility, accuracy, speed and efficiency. Among the different laser spectroscopy techniques, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is one used for elemental characterizations. A fast and reliable analytical technique for the study of meteorites that allows these classifications to be easier and more accurate would hence be a boon to astronomers, geologists and archaeologists alike. The analyses of these kinds of materials are conventionally carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), etc. This extra-resemblance of the chondrite composition to the composition of the solar system in comparison to the other types of meteorites is because chondrites have undergone little or no further changes-igneous processing or any other form of differentiation of the parent body-since their formation. The chondrites were formed from the coalescence of the dust and grains from the early solar system and are characterized by the presence of chondrules which are the solidified droplets of molten granular materials. They are the oldest known rocks and come under the category of primitive meteorites which supposedly formed during the formation of the solar system. In this context, the class of meteorites called chondrites deserves special attention. Moreover, these primitive meteorites serve as a perfect sampling specimen to represent the solar system in terms of age and composition, providing insights on the proportions of the elements present in the solar system as a whole. The LIBS analysis was supplemented by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with which it was possible to classify the samples into different classes according to their chief constituents, structure and origin.Ĭertain meteorites, referred to as “primitive meteorites” are believed to contain the first ever solid material formed in the solar system. The elemental analysis results for a few of the selected samples, such as iron meteorites, lunar meteorites, eucrites and impact glass, are presented and discussed. Since the presence of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in meteorites is usually in trace levels or not at all, LIBS can be used as a potential alternative method for the meteorite fragment analysis which, in turn, gives valuable clues on its origin as well as the origin of the solar system and its impact on life on Earth, particularly on the presence of REEs. In addition, LIBS has other advantages, such as multi-elemental response, micro–nano gram level of destructiveness and portability of the instrument. The spectroscopic characterization of plasma generated in meteorite samples during Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) shows the emission spectrum of elements present and also allows one to rapidly identify the elemental composition without any sample preparation and with good accuracy compared to some other methods.
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