From Outcrop to Ions: development and application of in-situ isotope ratio measurements to solve geologic problems
Project objectives are to (1) develop innovative analytical techniques for isotope geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and (2) apply these techniques to collaborative research projects of high priority to the Mineral Resources Program, including studies related to the formation of "critical mineral" deposits, and studies related to Alaska and U.S. midcontinent regions.
Scientific Issue and Relevance
The Plasma Laboratory houses a new double-focusing multiple-collector plasma ionization mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS), a Nu Plasma II, and a new 193 nm laser ablation system (RESOlution-SE). This LA-MC-ICPMS is designed to perform in-situ high-precision measurements of radiogenic and stable isotopes of trace elements. The other instrumentation in the Plasma Laboratory includes double-focusing single-collector lasma ionization mass spectrometer (SC-ICPMS), a Nu AttoM ES, and a new Agilent 7900 quadruple (Q) ICPMS. The latter two instruments are primarily used to perform rapid in situ measurements of Pb isotope ratios (i.e., common Pb for tracer studies or radiogenic Pb for U-Pb dating) and trace element abundances.
This project will allow us to (1) develop innovative in-situ analytical techniques for isotope geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology using plasma ionization mass spectrometry and (2) apply our new analytical techniques to collaborative research projects of high priority to the
Mineral Resources Program (MRP), including studies related to the U.S. midcontinent region and Alaska, and/or processes related to the formation of critical mineral deposits.
Methods to Address Issue
Our next major tasks are to refine our existing techniques and establish a series of new methods for isotopic and geochronological research using a philosophy of innovation through collaboration.
Innovation: Our goal is to improve the precision and accuracy of each technique to reach or surpass the cutting edge, while increasing efficiency (i.e., reducing the time and cost per analysis). We are following a phased approach of establishing or refining the analytical techniques from the basics (e.g., in situ U-Pb dating of zircon, apatite, titanite, and rutile, Hf isotopes in zircon; Nd isotopes in monazite) to those with higher risk and greater impact (e.g., St isotopes in apatite, feldspars, carbonates, and barite; Pb isotopes in feldspar and tourmaline; Li isotopes in tourmaline; Nd isotopes in bastnaesite or scheelite; Sn isotopes in cassiterite, or in situ U-Pb dating of ore-related minerals, such as bastnaesite, columbite, cassiterite, or scheelite).
Collaboration: The closely related fields of isotope geochemistry and geochronology are the power tools in the Geologist's tool chest. A major goal of this project is to increase the usage of these tools within the USGS through collaboration with other scientists on current and future MRP projects. We will involve USGS scientists in research with isotopes through a series of case studies related to high-priority Mineral Resources Program projects.
Project tasks are focused on the following activities:
- In-situ Isotope analysis of critical mineral isotope systems for geologic applications
- In-situ U-Pb geochronology of ore-forming and ore-related minerals applied to geologic processes
- In-situ U-Pb geochronology and trace element geochemistry of ore minerals and ore-forming processes
Return to: Mineral Resources Program | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Analytical Chemistry
Alaska Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
Geologic Map of Alaska
Uranium Mineral Systems
Geophysics of the Midcontinent Rift Region
Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West
Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Research
Iron Oxide-Copper-Cobalt-Gold-Rare Earth Element Deposits of Southeast Missouri—From the Ore Deposit Scale to a Global Deposit Model
Antimony In and Around the Yellow Pine Deposit, Central Idaho
Mineville, Eastern Adirondacks – Geophysical and Geologic Studies
Macro and Micro Analytical Methods Development
Tectonic and Metallogenic Evolution of the Yukon-Tanana Upland, Alaska
Project objectives are to (1) develop innovative analytical techniques for isotope geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), and (2) apply these techniques to collaborative research projects of high priority to the Mineral Resources Program, including studies related to the formation of "critical mineral" deposits, and studies related to Alaska and U.S. midcontinent regions.
Scientific Issue and Relevance
The Plasma Laboratory houses a new double-focusing multiple-collector plasma ionization mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS), a Nu Plasma II, and a new 193 nm laser ablation system (RESOlution-SE). This LA-MC-ICPMS is designed to perform in-situ high-precision measurements of radiogenic and stable isotopes of trace elements. The other instrumentation in the Plasma Laboratory includes double-focusing single-collector lasma ionization mass spectrometer (SC-ICPMS), a Nu AttoM ES, and a new Agilent 7900 quadruple (Q) ICPMS. The latter two instruments are primarily used to perform rapid in situ measurements of Pb isotope ratios (i.e., common Pb for tracer studies or radiogenic Pb for U-Pb dating) and trace element abundances.
This project will allow us to (1) develop innovative in-situ analytical techniques for isotope geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology using plasma ionization mass spectrometry and (2) apply our new analytical techniques to collaborative research projects of high priority to the
Mineral Resources Program (MRP), including studies related to the U.S. midcontinent region and Alaska, and/or processes related to the formation of critical mineral deposits.
Methods to Address Issue
Our next major tasks are to refine our existing techniques and establish a series of new methods for isotopic and geochronological research using a philosophy of innovation through collaboration.
Innovation: Our goal is to improve the precision and accuracy of each technique to reach or surpass the cutting edge, while increasing efficiency (i.e., reducing the time and cost per analysis). We are following a phased approach of establishing or refining the analytical techniques from the basics (e.g., in situ U-Pb dating of zircon, apatite, titanite, and rutile, Hf isotopes in zircon; Nd isotopes in monazite) to those with higher risk and greater impact (e.g., St isotopes in apatite, feldspars, carbonates, and barite; Pb isotopes in feldspar and tourmaline; Li isotopes in tourmaline; Nd isotopes in bastnaesite or scheelite; Sn isotopes in cassiterite, or in situ U-Pb dating of ore-related minerals, such as bastnaesite, columbite, cassiterite, or scheelite).
Collaboration: The closely related fields of isotope geochemistry and geochronology are the power tools in the Geologist's tool chest. A major goal of this project is to increase the usage of these tools within the USGS through collaboration with other scientists on current and future MRP projects. We will involve USGS scientists in research with isotopes through a series of case studies related to high-priority Mineral Resources Program projects.
Project tasks are focused on the following activities:
- In-situ Isotope analysis of critical mineral isotope systems for geologic applications
- In-situ U-Pb geochronology of ore-forming and ore-related minerals applied to geologic processes
- In-situ U-Pb geochronology and trace element geochemistry of ore minerals and ore-forming processes
Return to: Mineral Resources Program | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Analytical Chemistry
Alaska Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
Geologic Map of Alaska
Uranium Mineral Systems
Geophysics of the Midcontinent Rift Region
Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West
Gulf Coast Geologic Energy Research
Iron Oxide-Copper-Cobalt-Gold-Rare Earth Element Deposits of Southeast Missouri—From the Ore Deposit Scale to a Global Deposit Model
Antimony In and Around the Yellow Pine Deposit, Central Idaho
Mineville, Eastern Adirondacks – Geophysical and Geologic Studies
Macro and Micro Analytical Methods Development