Methods we use in the NSF/UVM Community Cosmogenic Facility
Our laboratory methods are always evolving to become safer, more effective, and more efficient. Here, we share the most up-to-date versions of the written methods we use for all phases of sample preparation.First, rock and sediment are prepared in our rock room; samples are crushed, ground, sieved, and magnetically separated. Next, the resulting material is taken upstairs to the mineral separation laboratory for quartz isolation. We isolate and purify quartz from samples using a series of strong and dilute acid etches, plus density separation as needed.
Download Quartz Purification Methods
The extracted quartz is tested for purity and re-purified until the impurity level has stabilized at levels usually less than 100 ppm.
Download Quartz Purity Testing Method
We do a final acid etching, rinsing and drying of all quartz in the clean lab prior to dissolution using teflon beakers.
Download Final Quartz Etching Method
Be-10 and Al-26 present in the quartz mineral lattice are extracted using a multi-acid dissolution followed by anion and cation exchange and pH-specific precipitation to separate and purify Al and Be from other cations and to reduce boron levels so that precise and accurate AMS measurements can be made.
Download Be/Al Extraction Method
Be-10 adhered to the surface of sediment and soil grains is extracted using a flux method modified from that developed and perfected by John Stone at the University of Washington.
Download Meteoric Be Extraction Method
You can click here to access old methods we used before the construction of the new laboratory in 2008.
Additionally, you can download some methods below that helped us design the protocols we used with great success until 2007.