National Centre for Isotope Geochemistry
The National Centre for Isotope Geochemistry at UCD (NCIG) was set up in January 2009 and is located within the UCD School of Earth Sciences. The Centre facilitates inter-disciplinary research in radiogenic and heavy stable isotope geochemistry by academics from UCD, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Cork (UCC), as well as international collaborators.
List of equipment and methods available:
High-precision isotope ratio analysis (U-Th, U-Pb, Rb-Sr, Lu-Hf, Fe, Zn, Cu, in-situ Rb-Sr and several other isotope systems under development). Method development proposals welcome.
Thermo Scientific Triton TIMS (9 Faraday cups & SEM)
High-precision isotope ratio and isotope dilution analysis for the Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, and Re-Os systems
Thermo Scientific Neptune MC-ICP-MS (9 Faraday cups and 9 ion counters); can be used with a Cetac Aridus II Desolvation Nebuliser:
High-precision isotope ratio analysis (U-Th, U-Pb, Rb-Sr, Lu-Hf, Fe, Zn, Cu)
Isotope dilution analysis (U, Th, Pb, Rb, Sr)
Thermo Scientific iCAP Q (1)c with a Teledyne Cetac ASX-560 Autosampler for:
Trace- and ultra-trace element analysis of aqueous solutions
Teledyne Cetac G2 Laser Ablation system
Coupled with the Neptune for:
Isotope ratio analysis of Pb (K-feldspar), Lu-Hf (zircon)
U-Pb geochronology of U-Pb in zircon and apatite
ThermoScientific iCAPQ (2)c used in laser ablation mode and coupled with the Neptune provides Split Stream (LASS) analysis for simultaneous, e.g.:
Trace element (iCAP) and Pb isotope analysis of K-feldspar (Neptune)
U-Pb geochronology (iCAP) and Lu-Hf analysis of zircon (Neptune)
Trace element (iCAP) and U-Pb geochronology of zircon, rutile etc. (Neptune).
Hitachi TM-1000 Desktop SEM:
Electron beam energy-dispersive elemental analysis in high spatial resolution;
BSE imaging (especially prior to laser-ablation analysis)
Elemental Scientific Lasers MicroMill2
State of the art microsampling device for high resolution milling and solution isotopic analysis of geological materials, including speleothems, magmatic minerals, porphyroblasts, diagenetic and epigenetic carbonates, and sulphide ore minerals, for a variety of stable and radiogenic isotopic studies.
Sample preparation facilities
Crushing and milling equipment (including dedicated agate ball mills for carbonates and peridotites); heavy liquid flotation and magnetic separators; sample digestion, ultra-clean fumehoods and work stations, ion chromatography.
Enquiries
Potential users are invited to email Professor Frank McDermott (frank.mcdermott@ucd.ie) and copy to Dr Thomas Belgrano (thomas.belgrano@ucd.ie - laser ablation applications) and / or to Dr David van Acken (david.vanacken@ucd.ie – all other applications).
October 2023
