Facilities in the UCT Geology Department

UCT GEOLOGY FACILITIES

The Department of Geological Sciences maintains a number of internal facilities in addition to participating in the operation of facilities within other research units and the Science Faculty. The Department houses the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer operated through the University's Core Equipment Facility. AEON, the Africa Earth Observatory Network, is responsible for the Electron Microprobe and Multi-collector ICP-MS facilities which are also housed in the Geological Sciences building.
The Radiogenic Isotope Facility (RIF) has provided a geochronological and tracer isotope capability for the regional Earth Science community since 1988. The RIF consists of a clean lab complex for chemical separation of isobaric isotopes and an instrument lab housing a VG Sector solid source multicollector thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) configured for isotope dilution analysis involving the Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and U-Th-Pb isotope systems. The clean labs are equipped to handle a wide range of geological, archaeological and environmental samples. The original TIMS instrument is over 21 years old and close to the end of its effective working life. Routine isotopic analysis of solutions produced in the RIF clean labs has been transferred to one of the two new multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (MC-ICPMS) in the AEON EarthLab. The clean lab also supports sample preparation for the other AEON Earthlab facilities. More detailed information about all AEON Earthlab facilities is available here.
The X-ray Fluorescence facility is well supported with staffed sample preparation facilities. All major and trace elements are analysed in house; contact Dave Reid for additional information.
The stable isotope laboratory is managed by Chris Harris and Fayrooza Rawoot. The facility includes extraction lines for silicates, carbonates and water, which are analyzed in the Archaeology Department, just across the road. Contact Chris Harris for more information.
The department maintains the Science Faculty X-ray Diffractometer facility, managed by John Compton.
The applied geophysics laboratory, managed by George Smith, is equipped with the following software, donated by the suppliers: The Kingdom Suite from Seismic Micro-Technology; Hampson and Russell from CGGVeritas; and Petrel from Schlumberger.
A brand-new Linkam fluid inclusion stage is used for fluid inclusion microthermometry.
The department supports a world-class thin section facility managed by John Harrison and operated by David Wilson and Rene van der Merwe.
Full-service workshop facilities including maintance of a large vehicle fleet and camp store for the support of field work, field courses and other activities are operated through the department.

Quick Links:
| Electron Microprobe | Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) | Multi-collector ICP-MS | XRF |

	UCT GEOLOGY FACILITIES
	The Department of Geological Sciences maintains a number of internal facilities in addition to participating in the operation of facilities within other research units and the Science Faculty. The Department houses the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer operated through the University's Core Equipment Facility. AEON, the Africa Earth Observatory Network, is responsible for the Electron Microprobe and Multi-collector ICP-MS facilities which are also housed in the Geological Sciences building. The Radiogenic Isotope Facility (RIF) has provided a geochronological and tracer isotope capability for the regional Earth Science community since 1988. The RIF consists of a clean lab complex for chemical separation of isobaric isotopes and an instrument lab housing a VG Sector solid source multicollector thermal ionization mass spectrometer (TIMS) configured for isotope dilution analysis involving the Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd and U-Th-Pb isotope systems. The clean labs are equipped to handle a wide range of geological, archaeological and environmental samples. The original TIMS instrument is over 21 years old and close to the end of its effective working life. Routine isotopic analysis of solutions produced in the RIF clean labs has been transferred to one of the two new multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (MC-ICPMS) in the AEON EarthLab. The clean lab also supports sample preparation for the other AEON Earthlab facilities. More detailed information about all AEON Earthlab facilities is available here. The X-ray Fluorescence facility is well supported with staffed sample preparation facilities. All major and trace elements are analysed in house; contact Dave Reid for additional information. The stable isotope laboratory is managed by Chris Harris and Fayrooza Rawoot. The facility includes extraction lines for silicates, carbonates and water, which are analyzed in the Archaeology Department, just across the road. Contact Chris Harris for more information. The department maintains the Science Faculty X-ray Diffractometer facility, managed by John Compton. The applied geophysics laboratory, managed by George Smith, is equipped with the following software, donated by the suppliers: The Kingdom Suite from Seismic Micro-Technology; Hampson and Russell from CGGVeritas; and Petrel from Schlumberger. A brand-new Linkam fluid inclusion stage is used for fluid inclusion microthermometry. The department supports a world-class thin section facility managed by John Harrison and operated by David Wilson and Rene van der Merwe. Full-service workshop facilities including maintance of a large vehicle fleet and camp store for the support of field work, field courses and other activities are operated through the department.
	Quick Links: \| Electron Microprobe \| Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) \| Multi-collector ICP-MS \| XRF \|