Earth Composition and Evolution

Tracing the evolution, composition and interaction of Earth systems with trace elements and isotopes.

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Olivier Alard

Prof.

olivier.alard@anu.edu.au

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Tracing the evolution, composition and interaction of Earth systems with trace elements and isotopes.

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Facilities

The ANU SHRIMP facility offers high-resolution ion microprobe analyses, allowing for precise measurements of stable isotopes, volatile elements, trace elements, and uranium-lead dating in solid materials.

Argon Geochronology

At the Argon lab in RSES, we specialize in temperature-controlled step-heating diffusion experiments for precise Arrhenius analysis, allowing for the calculation of diffusion parameters and activation energies within crystal domains.

ICP-MS research facility; elemental, isotopic and laser analysis

We specialise in precise elemental and isotopic analysis using advanced laser ablation and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry techniques, supporting detailed trace element concentration studies and isotope ratio work for a wide range of elements, offering specific instruments for comprehensive analysis.

Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (TIMS)

RSES has a number of thermal ionisation mass spectrometers available for high quality isotope ratio measurements.

Projects

Composition and Achitecture of the Australian Lithospheric Mantle

Volcanics (alkali basalts, kimberlites…) have brought up a large number of mantle xenoliths and xenocrysts throughout geological times and across the Australian continents. Those samples allow to study the composition of the mantle lithosphere. The newer Volcanic Provinceserve as a bench mark for the 2.0 version of the 4D Lithosphere mapping [link-Ref O’Reilly].