Rb-Sr dating and Sr isotope geochemistry by ID-TIMS

Our work is concentrated on material from the Alps, the Himalayan-Tibet orogenic belt and the wider Mediterranean area. The work encompasses:

• Whole rock (wr) Rb-Sr ID-TIMS analysis of a variety of chemical composition, to elucidate protolith nature (initial Sr isotope composition), and age.
• Mineral dating is mainly applied to micas (biotite, white mica) from igneous and metamorphic assemblages; however, other minerals (feldspars, apatite, amphibole, pyroxene) are also analyzed to control internal Sr isotope equilibration.
• Precise Sr IC (isotope composition) measurements for marine carbonates, including microfossils (foraminifers).
• Sr IC of igneous provinces (basalts, gabbros, granites s.l.), and from mantle rocks, to elucidate the geochemical nature of the protolith magma.
• Sr IC of water samples.

Contact: Martin Thöni, Monika Horschinegg