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Analyses Offered

Primary Geochronology/Thermochronology Analyses Offered

Apatite Fission Track and Uranium-Lead Analysis (AFT+UPb)

  • Combined FT+UPb grain ages using LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer)
  • 20-40 grains dated; detrital analysis (80-100 grains) available for extra cost
  • Kinetic parameters Dpar and/or Rmro on every age grain analyzed
  • Enhancement of measureable confined track density using Cf irradiation
  • Up to 125 (igneous rock) or 150 (sedimentary rock) confined fission-track length measurements
  • Fully calibrated HeFTy thermal history modeling if requested
  • Digital report including analyses of standards

Zircon Fission Track and Uranium-Lead (ZFT+UPb)

  • Combined FT+UPb grain ages using LA-ICP-MS
  • Up to 20 grains dated; double or detrital analyses available for extra cost
  • Digital report including analyses of standards

Zircon UPb Crystallization Age Dating (CZ)

  • Dating of UPb zircon grains using LA-ICP-MS
  • 15-30 grains dated
  • Estimate of CZ age based on the youngest concordant grain-age population
  • Digital report including analyses of standards

Zircon UPb Detrital Age Dating (DZ)

  • Dating of UPb zircon grains using LA-ICP-MS
  • Up to 110 grains dated
  • First-pass analysis of grain age populations based on Gaussian deconvolution
  • Digital report including analyses of standards

Additional Analyses Coordinated

Apatite and/or Zircon: (U-Th-Sm)/He dating (AHe) 

  • Digital report including analyses of standards
  • Coordinated with others; contact us for more information

Apatite and/or Zircon: Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA)*

  • Up to 14 elemental concentration measurements (O, F, Na, Mg, P, S, Ca, Mn, Fe, Sr, Y, La, Ce, Cl) for each apatite grain that yields FT age and length data
  • Digital report including analyses of standards

CL imaging of ZrnUPb grains*

  • Images and associated information

*Both EPMA and CL services would be carried out by the EPMA and ERD Laboratories, School of the Environment, Washington State University (phone: +1-509-335-6770). EPMA and CL services will be billed directly by WSU – not through GSS.  GSS charges a handling fee to cover costs associated with providing grain mounts and x-y grain-relocation files.