Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation

About

Main content start

Lab Capabilities

The Cosmo Lab is equipped to handle many different types of Earth materials in the preparation, extraction, purification, and packing of cosmogenic isotopes for measurement at an accelerated mass spectrometer (AMS). We primarily prepare samples for 10Be and 26Al analysis, however other isotopes (such as 7Be and 36Cl) are also possible using the facility.

We have two separate lab spaces, one focused on sample cleaning and measurement of meteoric isotopes and the other on in-situ isotopes. Our laboratory is designed for the following procedures:

  • Leaching for meteoric 10Be/9Be, including
    • Organically-bound
    • Exchangeable
    • Amorphous oxide-bound
    • Crystalline-bound
  • Quartz etching to remove meteoric beryllium for in-situ analysis
  • Aqua regia dissolution of accessory mineral grains
  • Fluoride caking
  • Dissolution of mineral grains in hydrofluoric acid
  • Ion exchange chromatography
  • Precipitation of BeO and Al2O3
  • Packing cathodes for AMS measurement

Cosmogenic isotopes processing steps

Graphical flowchart of processing steps for cosmogenic isotope analysis. Credit: Schaefer, Codilean, Willenbring et al., 2022

Uses of Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis

Meteoric 10Be analysis

Graphical explanation of meteoric cosmogenic isotope analysis. Credit: Jane Willenbring

In-situ 10Be analysis

Graphical explanation of in-situ cosmogenic isotope analysis. Credit: Jane Willenbring