Biography
Eszter Badenszki is a postdoc researcher in the iCRAG geochemistry platform. Eszter obtained her M.Sc at Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest, Hungary) and her Ph.D. from UCD, working with Prof. Stephen Daly. Eszter’s PhD research focused on the age and development of the deep crust of the Scottish Midland Valley. As an SFI-funded postdoc at UCD, she has been working on lower crustal xenoliths from central Ireland, especially their possible involvement in base metal mineralization. Eszter joined iCRAG in June 2016 where she is responsible for laser-ablation techniques and developing new methods for isotopic analysis.
The National Centre for Isotope Geochemistry at UCD has mass spectrometer facilities for a wide variety of isotopic analyses. I am setting up a new laser ablation method (LASS) to simultaneously analyse isotopic ratios and element concentrations in individual crystals. I train new users and assist existing users to get the best possible data by developing new methods and ensuring that the equipment is working well. User projects range from tracing the source of sand grains in hydrocarbon reservoirs to investigating chemical alteration of deep crustal metamorphic rocks. My major current project is investigating the possible role of the deep crust in the formation of Zn-Pb ores.
Technical description
The National Centre for Isotope Geochemistry is equipped with a ThermoScientific Neptune multiple collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS), two new ThermoScientific iCAPQ quadrupole inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometers (Q-ICP-MS), a ThermoScientific Triton thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) and a NWUP193 excimer laser ablation system.
I am currently setting up a laser-ablation split-stream system, which will facilitate isotopic ratio and element concentration measurements, e.g., Pb isotopes and trace elements on the same K-feldspar crystal; U-Pb dating and Lu-Hf isotope ratios on the same zircon domain, using the Neptune and iCAPQ simultaneously.
The Irish-type Zn-Pb ore deposits have huge economic significance - understanding their formation mechanisms, including the source of the metals, can have a critical role in mineral exploration. Shallow (<10 km) hydrothermal circulation is widely accepted as the main metal source. However, evidence from He, S and Os isotopes, and the possible role of volcanism in some deposits, point to deeper sources, including the mantle and lower crust. Isotopic analysis of deep crustal xenoliths (direct samples from the deep crust transported by volcanic activity), including Pb in K-feldspar, are comparable with ore deposit galenas, consistent with a lower crustal metal source, and hence larger-scale hydrothermal circulation.
Role
- Postdoctoral Researcher
Institution
- UCD
Research Area
- Platform Technologies
Expertise
- Geochemistry
