Crustal Imaging and Characterization Team

USGS ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar Geochronology Laboratory

Equipment

MAP 215-50 Rare Gas Mass Spectrometer

This instrument was delivered in 2002 and the argon extraction systems are in final stages of setup. We expect our first sample analyses to take place this year. The instrument has two electron multipliers and a Faraday collector. Argon will be extracted from samples in a low-vacuum furnace, an Excimer laser, or a CO₂ laser. A sample carousel was designed and constructed to allow loading of up to 50 samples, ranging in size from a single crystal to a few milligrams, for the automated dropping of samples into a low-blank, double vacuum furnace. The Excimer laser is an ablation laser for spot analysis across samples. The CO₂ laser is a heating laser for single crystal analysis.

Stay tuned, this instrument marks the future of argon geochronology!

Mass Spec Extraction Line	Sample Carousel for 215-50	CO2 and Excimer Laser

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