The Noble Gas Laboratory uses noble gases as tracers to investigate planetary, geological and environmental processes. The group plays a key role in applying noble gases to carbon capture and storage (CCS), complemented by stable isotope analysis, cosmogenic He and Ne dating, and U-Th/He thermochronology. Their work supports research on Earth system dynamics, environmental change, and subsurface resource monitoring.
Noble Gases
The noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) are unrivalled tracers of the role of ancient and modern fluids in the Earth system. In addition, the isotopic composition of He and Ne provide unique chronometric control on the evolution of the Earth surface and the uplift history of mountain ranges and sedimentary basins. The SUERC labs are equipped with state-of the-art magnetic sector and quadrupole mass spectrometers and an array of gas purification systems that allow high precision analysis of noble gases in gases, waters and minerals.
Labs
Natural Gas Laboratory
Quadrupole mass spectrometer (Prisma QMS200), magnetic sector mass spectrometer (MAP 215-50) and dedicated gas purification system
Analysis of the major gas (CO2, CH4 & heavy hydrocarbons) and noble gas isotopes in gas and water samples
Helium Thermochronology Laboratory
Quadrupole mass spectrometer (Hiden HAL3F) and the dedicated ICP-MS (Agilent 7500)
Apatite and zircon helium thermochronology, and (U+Th)/He dating of continental weathering using hematite and goethite
Noble Gas Isotope Laboratory
Magnetic sector mass spectrometers; ThermoFisher Helix-SFT and ARGUS-VI
Measurement of He, Ne and Ar isotopes in minerals
Prof Fin Stuart
Professor of Isotope Geosciences
Dr Luigia Di Nicola
Research Technician
