Technology and Apparatus

Analytical work at GeoTarget Solutions Inc. is conducted in ultra clean, low blank laboratories using cutting edge-techniques and state-of-the-art-equipment that assures customer satisfaction. Minute-by-minute equipment calibration is a key in obtaining most accurate and highly precise geochemical and (thermo)geochronological data at ultra low limits of detection. All of our analytical measurements are standardised using internationally calibrated standard materials. With us, only the highest quality results count.

Geochronology and Thermochronology

Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), for rapid U-Pb dating of zircon, baddeleyite, monazite and titanite (precision better than 2%).

New Wave UP193-FX eXimer laser ablation system

Thermo Scientific Element XR extended dynamic range, high resolution ICP-MS

Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS), for ultra-precise U-Pb geochronological information (precision better than 0.02%).

Thermo Scientific TRITON Plus high sensitivity, multicollector TIMS

Ar-Ar mass spectrometry, for dating and determining the thermal histories of a wide range of magmatic, authigenic and detrital minerals.

Thermo Scientific Argus magnetic sector, static vacuum, noble gas mass spectrometer.

Fission-track and (U-Th)/He analysis, for determining precise and accurate thermal, burial and exhumation histories of sedimentary, magmatic and metamorphic rocks within the upper 8km of the crust.

New Wave UP213 deep-UV YAG laser ablation system.

Perkin Elmer ELAN DRC 6100 quadrupole ICP-MS.

Zeiss Axioimager (Z1) optical microscope and ultra-high precision x-y-z translation stage manufactured by Autoscan Systems Ltd Pty.

Geochemistry

X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) as a quick and affordable tool for the acquisition of extensive datasets of major and selected trace-elements.

PANalytical Axios-Advanced wavelenght dispersive sequential X-ray spectrometer.

Electron Microprobe (EMP) analysis for non-destructive in situ compositional analyses of minerals and metals.

JEOL JXA8200 SuperProbe.

JXA 8530F field emission electron probe microanalyzers.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for high-sensitivity analyses of elemental abundances across the periodic table. Applicable to water, sediment, soil, biological, organic and geological samples (solution mode), or in situ analyses of minerals and metals (laser ablation mode).

Thermo Scientific Element 2 high resolution, double focusing magnetic sector field ICP-MS.

Automated Gas Chromatographic Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is used for high-sensitivity analyses of non-polar compounds such as carbonates (dioxins, hydrocarbons) in gas species, sediments, rocks, soils and water.

Agilent 7820A gas chromatography system coupled to...

...Waters AutoSpec Premier double-focusing, magnetic sector mass spectrometer.

Isotopic Tracing