Application of Laser Ablation Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA MC ICPMS) for 230Th/U-dating of speleothems and paleoclimate reconstruction

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Denis Scholz
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2008 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 75875953

I apply to spend one year at the Bristol Research Initiative for a Dynamic Global Environment (BRIDGE) at Bristol University, United Kingdom, to become acquainted with cutting-edge Laser Ablation Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA MC ICPMS) techniques, which are not available at my current position in Heidelberg. I want to apply these methods to stalagmite HBSH-1 from Hüttenbläserschachthöhle (Sauerland, western Germany), which grew during several warm phases within the last 250,000 years as revealed by preliminary Thermal Ionization Mass spectrometry (TIMS) 230Th/U-dating. Application of LA MC ICPMS 230Th/U-dating allows obtaining the highest dating accuracy and spatial age resolution. In addition, high-resolution trace element profiles will be measured on HBSH-1 by LA ICPMS. When I return to Germany, I would like to establish these methods there. Stalagmite HBSH-1 will be interpreted in terms of past climate variability, and the interpretation will be supported by the results of the DFG research group DAPHNE, which works with stalagmites from the nearby Bunkerhöhle. Furthermore, I want to develop a general algorithm to construct stalagmite age models. This algorithm will be tested using the high-resolution age information on HBSH-1.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor Dr. Paul J. Valdes