Laser ablation in selected minerals for extracting fluid in inclusions

The inclusions are to a large extent prevented from contamination and many temporal changes as they are embedded within minerals. However, an essential part of the investigation procedure is the method of extracting fluids from such minerals. Since mechanical drilling or polishing involves a high risk for contamination of the sample, it is suggested to use a laser ablation technique to isolate the samples. In order to assess the potential of this technique, we have studied the parameters for laser ablation in quartz, calcite and apatite (the most common minerals containing fluid inclusions).