Development of analytical methods based on the combination of deep-UV ArF* excimer laser ablation (LA) with single-collector or multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for application to real-life problems, including the determination of the platinum group elements (PGMs) in Pb disks, obtained via fire assay treatment of the samples of interest, via LA-ICP-MS using isotope dilution for calibration, quasi non-destructive isotopic analysis of valuable samples, spatially resolved isotopic analysis and 2-D and 3-D chemical imaging.