1. Isotope fractionation mechanisms of non-traditional stable isotopes: thermodynamic fractionation between minerals, including Fe isotope thermometry, diffusive isotope profiles of Mg, Fe in olivine, evaporative loss during impact formation of tektites.
2. Cosmochemistry: mechanisms of fractionation of Ni, Fe, Mg and Zn isotopes during evolution of meteorite parent bodies; processes of melts separation, core formation, impact errosion end volatiles loss; evolution of planetisimals in the early Solar System. I’m especially interested in differentiated planetisimals presented on Earth by pallasites, ureilites, acapulcoite-lodranite primitive meteorites and irons.
3. Development of MC-ICP-MS and LA-MC-ICP-MS measurement protocols, target element isolation techniques, protocols for quantification of LA-ICP-MS data, LA-ICP-MS 2D element imaging, correction of instrumental isotope fractionation, collision reaction cells, interference-free isotopic analysis via MC-ICP-MS.
4. Radioisotope dating (U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Re-Os) and isotopic source tracing of U ore deposits.
SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
- Use of non-traditional stable isotope (Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg) and radiogenic isotope (Pb, Sr, 147Sm-143Nd, 187Re-187Os) proxies for geo- and cosmochemical applications.
- MC-ICP-MS isotopic analysis (Thermo Scientific Neptune series instruments, NU instruments HR, NU instruments Sapphire) of Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg, Sr, Pb, Sm-Nd, U-Pb, Ce, Ca.
- Development of MC-ICP-MS measurement protocols (Ni, Fe, Ce, Ca) and element isolation techniques for MC-ICP-MS (Ni, Mg, Ce).
- Laser ablation ICP-MS (NWR Tempest, NWR UP193HE; Teledyne Cetac Analyte G2; in-house fs-LA installation in Leibnitz University Hannover) used towards the end of
- in-situ isotopic analysis via LA-MC-ICP-MS (Fe, Ni, Mg, Sr, Pb)
- in-situ multi-element analysis
- 2D element imaging
- U-Pb dating of zircon, uraninite
- TIMS isotopic analysis (Os on Finnigan 262, Ce on Thermo Scientific Triton, Sr on NU TIMS).
- ICP-MS trace element analysis (Thermo Scientific ElementXR, XSeriesII, Agilent 7900/8800).
- Operation of class 100 clean laboratories for trace element and high-precision isotopic analysis including acid sub-boiling, element isolation, and sample digestion techniques: microwave operation, LiBO2 fusion.
- Other techniques associated with analytical isotope geochemistry: SEM, µXRF, preparation of rock and meteorite samples: micro-drilling, diamond wire sawing, mineral separation using Frantz.