A study of stalagmite samples from Baradla Cave (Hungary) by laser induced plasma spectrometry with automatic signal correction

In the present work, we studied the applicability of laser induced plasma/breakdown spectrometry (LIPS/LIBS) to speleothem analysis. Problems related to the use of time- and spatially integrating compact LIBS instrumentation, speleothem sample preparation, spectral line assignation and signal intensity correction have been addressed. A novel signal correction scheme, based on the total integrated spectral background, was developed and employed for the qualitative study of the lateral distribution profiles of major (Ca, Mg, C, O) and minor (Al, Si, Fe, Mn) elements detected in horizontally cut slices of stalagmite samples from Baradla Cave (Aggtelek, Hungary). Several new computer program modules were also developed to aid the spectral data evaluation. Correlations and trends found in the lateral distribution profiles were discussed, and based on their relations, tentative suggestions for the chemical compounds present in the samples were made. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.