ICP-Base: A free and open-source software solution for centralized LA-ICP-MS data processing, evaluation and management

Sebastian Stumpf , Nils B Gies, Thomas Pettke, Marcel Guillong

Transient signal intensity data, particularly since the advent of Laser Ablation–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), have become a standard tool in petrology and geochemistry for determining the chemical composition of minerals and fluid and melt inclusions. However, commonly used software for quantifying raw ICP-MS data is often inflexible, expensive, and closed-source, typically providing only tabular output, leaving analytical data scattered across files and systems. ICP-Base is a free and open-source software featuring a graphical user interface designed to enhance transparency, versatility and efficiency in LA-ICP-MS data processing. It integrates raw data, processing parameters, results and metadata within a centralized hierarchical database, preserving the full analytical context and facilitating both short- and long-term evaluation and instrument monitoring. The software supports processing of mineral spot analyses, fully enclosed fluid and solid inclusions analyses, and line scan data. It introduces transparent approaches for host–inclusion signal deconvolution and enables sequential and parallel quantification using multiple external reference materials and highly flexible internal standardization approaches. All data processing, evaluation, and visualization are performed within the software environment, with visualization handled through integration of the VisModule from MinPlotX, enabling direct generation of publication-ready figures without relying on external tools. Owing to its modular design and availability of the source code, ICP-Base provides a flexible framework for community-driven development and future methodological expansion in LA-ICP-MS data processing.