The noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) are unrivalled tracers of the role of ancient and modern fluids in the Earth system.  In addition, the isotopic composition of He and Ne provide unique chronometric control on the evolution of the Earth surface and the uplift history of mountain ranges and sedimentary basins.  The SUERC labs are equipped with state-of the-art magnetic sector and quadrupole mass spectrometers and an array of gas purification systems that allow high precision analysis of noble gases in gases, waters and minerals.

Noble Gases

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Earth Systems  Innovation & Technology 
 

Projects

Full lab project listings

Techniques & Technologies

Natural Gas Laboratory

Quadrupole mass spectrometer (Prisma QMS200), magnetic sector mass spectrometer (MAP 215-50) and dedicated gas purification system

Analysis of the major gas (CO2, CH4 & heavy hydrocarbons) and noble gas isotopes in gas and water samples:

  • Fingerprinting injected and produced gases in Carbon Capture and Storage projects.
  • Origin and interaction history of natural gases, e.g. helium and coal-bed methane.

Helium Thermochronology Laboratory

Quadrupole mass spectrometer (Hiden HAL3F) and the dedicated ICP-MS (Agilent 7500)

Apatite and zircon helium thermochronology, and (U+Th)/He dating of continental weathering using hematite and goethite.

Noble Gas Isotope Laboratory

Magnetic sector mass spectrometers; ThermoFisher Helix-SFT and ARGUS-VI

Measurement of He, Ne and Ar isotopes in minerals, specializing in:

  • Cosmogenic 3He and 21Ne for quantifying time scales for landscape development and dating volcanic eruptions.
  • Noble gas isotopes in volcanic rocks for understanding Earth composition and differentiation history.
  • Helium isotopes in ore minerals to trace the source of volatiles, metals and heat in mineralising fluids.

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