Application of Laser‐Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Hyperspectral Images for Direct Evaluation of Chemical Elemental Profiles of Coprolites |
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| Authors: | Marco Aurélio Sperança Francisco Wendel Batista de Aquino Marcelo Adorna Fernandes Alejandro Lopez‐Castillo Renato Lajarim Carneiro Edenir Rodrigues Pereira‐Filho |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Federal University of S?o Carlos, S?o Carlos, S?o Paulo, 13565‐905, Brazil;2. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Federal University of S?o Carlos, S?o Carlos, S?o Paulo, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | This study demonstrates the application of laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and hyperspectral imaging to the investigation of coprolite and fossil samples. Solid samples from the Permian (seven coprolites and one fossil), Cretaceous (one coprolite) and Oligo‐Miocene (two coprolites) periods were directly analysed, and emission spectra from 186 to 1042 nm were obtained in several areas covering coprolite/fossil and rock material. Initial exploratory analyses were performed using principal component analysis with the data set normalised by the norm (Euclidean norm = 1). After identification and selection of emission lines of eleven elements (Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P and Si), the signals were normalised again by the relative intensity of the selected element. Phosphorus was identified mainly in the coprolites, while K and Na were primarily found in the rock material. In several cases, there was a positive correlation between Ca and P. A sample from the Oligo‐Miocene series was also analysed using inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) (rock and coprolites were analysed separately). Based on the quantitative results from ICP‐OES, it was confirmed that the tendency was the same as that observed with the results obtained from LIBS directly in the solid sample. |
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| Keywords: | coprolites laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy hyperspectral images principal component analysis ICP‐OES |
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