The performance of the Noblesse multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometer for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology

He, D., Stuart, F. M. , Barfod, D. N., Xiao, F. and Zhong, H. (2018) The performance of the Noblesse multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometer for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology. Acta Geochimica, 37(5), pp. 734-745. (doi: 10.1007/s11631-018-0265-8)

Abstract

Noblesse multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometer is specially designed for multi-collection of Ar isotopes with different beam sizes, especially for small ion beams, precisely, and hence is perfectly suitable for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology. We have analyzed widely used sanidine, muscovite, and biotite standards with recommended ages of ~ 1.2–133 Ma, with the aim to assess the reliability of Noblesse for 40Ar/39Ar dating. An ESI MIR10 30W CO2 laser was used for total fusion or incremental heating samples. Extracted gases were routinely purified by four SAES NP10 getters (one at ~ 400 °C and others at room temperature). A GP50 getter and a metal cold finger cooled by liquid N (− 196 °C) were also attached for additional purification if necessary. The Ar isotopes were then measured by Noblesse using Faraday or multiplier according to the signal intensities. Over a period of 1.5 months 337 air calibrations produced a weighted mean 40Ar/36Ar of 296.50 ± 0.08 (2σ, MSWD = 4.77). Fish Canyon sanidine is used to calculate J-values, which show good linear relationship with position in irradiation. The age of four mineral standards (Alder Creek sanidine, Brione muscovite, Yabachi sanidine, and Fangshan biotite) are within error of the accepted ages. Five Alder Creek sanidine aliquots yielded an age range of 1.174–1.181 ± 0.013 Ma (2σ) which broadly overlaps the established age of the standard and the uncertainty approaches those of the foremost Ar/Ar laboratories in the world. The weighted mean ages of four Brione muscovite aliquots (18.75 ± 0.16 Ma, 2σ), five Yabachi sanidine aliquots (29.50 ± 0.19 Ma, 2σ), and three Fangshan biotite aliquots (133.0 ± 0.76 Ma, 2σ) are consistent with the recommended values of these standards, and the uncertainties are typical of modern Ar/Ar laboratories world-wide.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This study was jointly funded by The National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFC0600405) and The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40903022).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Stuart, Professor Fin
• Authors: He, D., Stuart, F. M., Barfod, D. N., Xiao, F., and Zhong, H.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Acta Geochimica
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 2096-0956
• ISSN (Online): 2365-7499
• Published Online: 10 February 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 Science Press, Institute of Geochemistry, CAS and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
• First Published: First published in Acta Geochimica 37(5):734-745
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher