Denver Radiogenic Isotope Lab
Building 95 on the Denver Federal Center houses the Denver radiogenic isotope laboratory along with the Southwest Isotope Research Laboratory (SWIRL)
Thermal-ionization mass spectrometers constituting the core of the Denver Radiogenic Isotope Laboratory
Detritus-poor pedogenic coatings, like this one, are used to constrain minimum ages of alluvial deposition using U-series disequilibrium dating
millimeter-scale subsamples analyzed for U-series disequilibrium dating plus 87Sr/86Sr, 234U/238U, δ18O, and δ13C analyses
The GEC Science Center supports a laboratory facility that includes sample preparation labs, class-10,000 or better clean labs for chemical processing, and an instrument lab with multiple thermal ionization mass spectrometers (TIMS).
DRIL Facilities
[The use of firm, trade, and brand names is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. government.]
The GEC and G3 Science Centers jointly support a laboratory facility located in Building 95 of the Denver Fed Center that includes sample preparation labs, two class-10,000 or better clean labs for chemical processing, and an instrument lab for thermal ionization mass spectrometers (TIMS). The lab is effectively shared between Science Centers and provides a model for efficient use of space and communal resources.
The facility maintains two multi-collector TIMS instruments, including an IsotopX Phoenix (installed July 2017) and Thermo Finnigan Triton (installed 2004). These instruments are capable of running in fully automated modes or remotely through a secured internet connection. Both have moveable faraday cups allowing static or dynamic simultaneous multi-collection of large ion beams. Small ion beams are measured by single-collector peak-hopping methods using either a discrete-dynode electron multiplier or Daly-knob /photomultiplier collector.
Prior to TIMS analyses, chemical processing is required to separate and purify the element of interest. This typically involves acid-digestion and evaporation followed by ion chromatographic exchange on small, resin-filled columns. The clean labs include multiple HEPA-filtered work stations and evaporation boxes that provide class-1000 or better work spaces. As a result, samples are exposed to minimal environmental contamination during processing allowing analyses of very small samples.
Staff
The Denver Radiogenic Isotope Lab is cooperatively run by a number of principle investigators, post-docs, and support staff:
- Adam Hudson (ahudson@usgs.gov): Research Geologist (Principal Investigator), GECSC
- Richard Moscati (rmoscati@usgs.gov): Research Geologist (Principal Investigator), G3SC
- Ryan Frazer (rfrazer@usgs.gov): Research Geologist (Postdoctoral Fellow), GECSC
- Neil Griffis (ngriffis@usgs.gov): Research Geologist (Postdoctoral Fellow), G3SC
- Hannah Tompkins (htompkins@usgs.gov): Geologist (Lab Manager), GECSC
- James Paces (jbpaces@usgs.gov): Research Geologist (Emeritus), GECSC
- Leonid Neymark (lneymark@usgs.gov): Research Chemist (Emeritus), G3SC
- Wayne Premo (wpremo@usgs.gov): Geologist (Emeritus), GECSC
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Clumped isotopes record a glacial-interglacial shift in seasonality of soil carbonate accumulation in the San Luis Valley, southern Rocky Mountains, USA
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The Salinas del Bebedero occupies an isolated basin in the foreland of central Argentina at 33°S and was flooded repeatedly over past 25 ka. Isotopic evidence demonstrates that this flooding was due to overflow of the nearby Río Desaguadero with waters derived from the distant (≥300 km) central Andes between 28–34°S. Stratigraphic and shoreline evidence shows that floods occurred most frequently bAuthorsJay Quade, Elad Dente, Allison Cartwright, Adam M. Hudson, Sebastian Jimenez, David McGeeEvidence for humans in North America during the Last Glacial Maximum
Archaeologists and researchers in allied fields have long sought to understand human colonization of North America. When, how, and from where did people migrate, and what were the consequences of their arrival for the established fauna and landscape are enduring questions. Here, we present evidence from excavated surfaces of in situ human footprints from White Sands National Park (New Mexico, USA)AuthorsMatthew R. Bennett, David Bustos, Jeffrey S. Pigati, Kathleen B. Springer, Thomas. M. Urban, Vance T. Holliday, Sally C. Reynolds, Marcin Budka, Jeffrey S. Honke, Adam M. Hudson, Brendan Fenerty, Clare Connelly, Patrick J. Martinez, Vincent L. Santucci, Daniel OdessGeomorphic history of Lake Manix, Mojave Desert, California: Evolution of a complex terminal lake basin
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