Facilities

Noble Gas Geochronology

The Ar-Ar Laboratory currently operates three instruments for the dating of geological materials.

Multi-collector Thermo Fisher Scientific Argus VI mass spectrometer

ARGUSVI & ARGUSVI+

Fully automated multi-collector Thermo Fisher Scientific Argus VI mass spectrometer linked to a Photon Machines Fusions 55W 10.6 CO2 laser system, enabling high-precision step-heating of single grains or bulk samples. Specifications as follows:

  • Mass spectrometer volume is ~700 cm3; Gas extraction/purification line volume is ~240 cm3
  • Sensitivity: ~3.55 × 10-17 moles/fA
  • Five high-gain Faraday detectors (two with 1015 Ω resistors, three with 1013 Ω resistors) and one CDD detector
  • Analytical precision: <0.1% for most samples
Sample holder for a spectrometer

VG3600

A VG3600 mass spectrometer connected to a double-vacuum niobium resistance furnace and a Synrad Firestar v40 W CO2 laser system. Step-heating of bulk samples or single grains is possible (depending on sample age). Specifications as follows:

  • Mass spectrometer + gas extraction (furnace)/purification line total volume: 2,600 cm3
  • Sensitivity: ~4.00 × 10-17 moles/mV
  • Daly detector
  • Analytical precision: <1% for most samples

Equipment is operated and maintained at the highest standard.