(U-Th)/He lab
Leiter
apl. Prof. Edward Sobel, PhD
- E-Mail:
- ed@geo.uni-potsdam.de
- Telefon:
- +49 331 977 5855
- Fax:
- +49 331 977 5700

The (U-Th-Sm)/He lab is equipped with an Alphachron automated system for helium measurement. We can measure 24 aliquots in automatic mode in < 1 week. We collaborate with PD Dr. Johannes Glodny in section 4.2 at the GFZ-Potsdam; he is responsible for sample dissolution and analysis of U, Th and Sm using ICP-MS. At present, we are only analyzing apatites; we are now working towards analyzing zircons.

To test the reproducibility of our analyses, we have analyzed numerous aliquots of Durango apatite, which has an age of 31.0 ± 2.0 Ma (mean of 24 (U-Th)/He ages (some without Sm); McDowell et al. 2005) or 31.4 ± 0.2 Ma (40Ar/39Ar; McDowell et al. 2005). From 72 aliquots, we have obtained a mean age of 32.5 ± 2.0 Ma (2s analytical error). If we discard 6 obvious outliers, we obtain an age of 30.8 ± 1.6 Ma (2 sigma, n = 66).

For picking single crystals for analysis, we have a high resolution binocular microscope equipped with a digital camera.