About the UVM Cosmogenic Lab
The University of Vermont cosmogenic lab and research group are dedicated to high quality, high volume processing of samples for 10-Be and 26-Al analysis (and sometimes, but rarely, 36-Cl). Our energy is focussed on solving geologic and geomorphic problems with a sufficient number of samples to understand the intrinsic variability of natural systems. We are dedicated to training students at the graduate level while developing and freely disseminating sample processing methods.
The UVM
Cosmogenic Nuclide Extraction Laboratory was first established in
Perkins Hall during the fall of 1993 and the spring of 1994. The lab
has occupied several different facilities in the years since. The
original Perkins lab was reconstructed with support from the UVM Provost
and operated from 1996 until 2004 with three fully exhausting laminar
flow hoods. We relied on aged facilities to do mineral separation and
quartz purification.
In 2004, the Geology Department relocated
to Delehanty Hall on the UVM Trinity Campus. At that time, the cosmogenic lab moved to
its new location on the third floor of Delehanty Hall with four fully
exhausting laminar flow hoods, an acid recapture system and all the
centrifuges and Teflon wear necessary to separate microgram quantities
of Be and Al from 20-60 g of purified quartz. Issues with mechanical
systems slowed our work for several years, ending with external boron contamination of the lab (from
building roofing job) followed by an electrical fire that destroyed the facility.
The lab has now been rebuilt with a new
design and entirely new mechanical systems and furnishings. Work
went well and quickly as you can see from these photos. All lab gear
is brand new. As of October 2009, we are fully back on line processing meteoric and in situ 10Be. There are web pages
where you can see and learn more about our laboratory facilities.
In order to make isotopic measurements, we work extensively with collaborators at Lawrence Livermore (CAMS) National Laboratory and at Purdue University (PRIME). Since its inception in late 1993, the UVM lab has served nearly 20 graduate students and a post doc working on several dozen different projects. We have processed over 3500 samples and prepared nearly 4500 targets for analysis. You can see a list of our publications and download them. If you are interested in working with us, here is our contact information. You can join the geocosmo list serve and check our links page to learn more.