Niespolo Micro-Analytical Geochronology (NiMAGe) Lab
The NiMAGe Lab hosts three spaces:
The Chemistry Lab: An ISO Class 6 / FS209E Class 1000 chemistry lab with three ISO Class 4 / FS209E Class 10 vertical laminar flow hoods, weighing station, and related equipment to conduct cation exchange column chromatography for U-Th geochronology
The Mass Spectrometer Lab is an ISO Class 7 / FS209E Class 10,000 clean room and hosts three instruments:
A Thermo Neoma multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS)
An Agilent 8900 QQQ ICP-MS
An ESI Lasers NWR 193 ImageGEO Laser Ablation system
The Preparation Lab: A space to cut, drill, dremel, sonicate, separate, and epoxy-mount samples.
Applications
Applications
Using the QQQ ICP-MS (and researchers leading this work):
Using the QQQ ICP-MS (and researchers leading this work):
In situ trace element concentration profiling of volcanic glass, carbonate biominerals (eggshells, teeth, corals) (Niespolo)
In situ trace element concentration profiling of volcanic glass, carbonate biominerals (eggshells, teeth, corals) (Niespolo)
In situ U-Pb dating of accessory minerals (Apen)
In situ U-Pb dating of accessory minerals (Apen)
Solution-based geochemical assay of water (Niespolo)
Solution-based geochemical assay of water (Niespolo)
Solution-based measurements of lithium and potassium isotopes using cold plasma mode (Weldeghebriel)
Solution-based measurements of lithium and potassium isotopes using cold plasma mode (Weldeghebriel)
Using the Neoma (in progress; and researchers leading this work):
Using the Neoma (in progress; and researchers leading this work):
U-series geochronology of carbonates (Niespolo, Salas-Saavedra)
U-series geochronology of carbonates (Niespolo, Salas-Saavedra)
Split-Stream laser ablation dual ICP-MS to simultaneously measure major and trace elements on the QQQ and a selected isotope system on the Neoma in minerals (Niespolo, Apen)
Split-Stream laser ablation dual ICP-MS to simultaneously measure major and trace elements on the QQQ and a selected isotope system on the Neoma in minerals (Niespolo, Apen)
Research Themes
Research Themes
I am interested in anchoring paleoclimate and fossil records to absolute timescales to assess correlations of local and global environmental changes to evolution and adaptation.
I am interested in anchoring paleoclimate and fossil records to absolute timescales to assess correlations of local and global environmental changes to evolution and adaptation.
A Core Research Theme addresses outstanding questions on the timing and tempo of human evolution, the development of modern human behaviors, and the timing of global-scale human colonization. How these are recorded, what local environments were like during these significant leaps in biological and cultural evolution, and human-environment interactions, drive my research.
A Core Research Theme addresses outstanding questions on the timing and tempo of human evolution, the development of modern human behaviors, and the timing of global-scale human colonization. How these are recorded, what local environments were like during these significant leaps in biological and cultural evolution, and human-environment interactions, drive my research.
I am also interested in understanding crustal processes using petrology and isotope geochemistry, a focus of my M.S. research (see "recent projects" in the Research drop-down menu).
I am also interested in understanding crustal processes using petrology and isotope geochemistry, a focus of my M.S. research (see "recent projects" in the Research drop-down menu).
My tool kit includes radioisotopic dating, light stable isotopes, petrology, field geology, and archaeological excavation.
My tool kit includes radioisotopic dating, light stable isotopes, petrology, field geology, and archaeological excavation.