Cosmogenic Isotope Lab

The geochemistry/cosmogenic isotope lab at UND.

We prepare bulk samples for 26Aluminum and 10Beryllium measurement in AMS.

A brief process outline:

-Physical separations (crushing, sieving, density separations with LST)

-Quartz cleaning (multiple/varied acid leeches and ultrasonication)

-Quartz purity checks (Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry "FAAS")

-Quartz digestions (hydrofluoric acid)

-Ion separation (cation and anion chromatography)

-Al and Be precipitation to hydroxide gels (ammonium hydroxide)

-Al and Be conversion to oxides (flamed in quartz crucibles)

-Pack oxides in cathodes for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

To see other labs across the USA that have similar capabilities click here: USA Cosmo Labs