Crustal Imaging and Characterization Team

USGS ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar Geochronology Laboratory

Costs for Analyses

Note: In general, we prefer to perform the mineral separation for quality control

Cost per sample:
» $1,000 per sample - Price includes the costs for mineral separation, irradiation of samples, analysis of sample, data reduction, and putting the data into final format for tables and graphs ready for publication

Turn around time for results varies from 6 months to a year. This time period allows for the samples to be separated, irradiated, enough time to cool down, and analyzed. However, depending on when an appropriate irradiation that fits your samples (age range), results may be obtained within 3-6 months.

For faster service:
» $1,500 to $2,000 per sample

Cost for mineral separations only:
» $350 per sample
» $100 for additional minerals separated from same rock

Commonly utilized minerals and rock samples for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating from various rock types:

Minerals and rocks that are readily separated by the Denver Argon Laboratory for ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology, U-Pb geochronology, Fission-Track geochronology and stable isotopes applications:

• » Actinolite
• » Adularia
• » Alunite
• » Amphibole
• » Apatite
• » Arsenopyrite
• » Basalts
• » Biotite
• » Chalcopyrite
• » Chlorite
• » Clays
• » Fuchsite
• » Garnet
• » Glauconite
• » Illite
• » Jarosite
• » Magnetite
• » Manganese oxides
• » Muscovite
• » Neptunite
• » Phengite
• » Phlogopite
• » Potassium feldspar
• » Pyrite
• » Pyroxene
• » Quartz
• » Sanidine
• » Sericite
• » Serpentine
• » Spene
• » Zircon

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://crustal.usgs.gov/laboratories/geochronology/costs.htm
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Page Last Modified: 08-May-2008@12:04