SERVICES & FACILITIES ANNUAL REPORT - FY April 2006 to March 2007
SERVICE: Open University Uranium
Series Facility, OUUSF
FUNDING
Block
AGREEMENT
F14/G6/47
ESTABLISHED as S&F
1998
TERM
3 year
TYPE OF SERVICE PROVIDED:
The purpose of OUUSF is the application of Uranium-series methodologies in research in Earth and
environmental sciences and science-based archaeology. Research is carried out subject to approval by the
Steering Committee, in collaboration with NERC stakeholders in the pursuit of knowledge and better
understanding of the Earth system. U-series chronology is an essential component of many projects in Earth
and environmental science, oceanography, hydrology and science-based archaeology. Topics include recent
magma evolution and volcanic hazard prediction, global climatic change through dating of authigenic
deposits, human evolution through dating of bone, and the study of groundwater evolution.
Uranium-series determinations, i.e. 234U/238U, 230Th/232Th, 231Pa/235U 230Th/234U ratios, and U, Th Pa and Ra
concentrations by isotope dilution, are performed on a dedicated TIMS MAT262-RPQ-II instrument or a Nu
Instruments MC-ICPMS. Both are equipped with a deceleration lens to achieve the required abundance
sensitivity, and ion counting for superior detection limits. Thorium isotope ratios in samples containing less
then 0.5 picogram 230Th can be measured with a precision better than 1% (2m) and Ra abundances, as low as
4 femtogram, can be determined to 1% (2m). OUUSF uses Picotrace state-of-the-art ultra-clean chemical
laboratories for sample separation and purification. Low Total Procedure Blanks and excellent instrument
sensitivity provide the means to analyse very low level abundances in samples, for instance Ra in mid-ocean
ridge basalts and Th in river and ground-water
OUUSF provides the equivalent of one user-year of training and analyses per annum, which represents
25% of the Open University Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory capacity and corresponds to circa 165
samples. Post-graduate teaching and training is the most important aspect of OUUSF activity and usually
post-graduates work under close supervision in the laboratory for a number of one-week periods. Students
use Standard Operating Procedures and learn to work with radioactive materials in a low-blank chemistry
laboratory, a mass spectrometry laboratory and to carry out data reduction and evaluation protocols.
Quality Assurance is maintained through the repeated analysis of internal laboratory standards and
Certified Reference Materials, reagent and total-procedure blanks and calibrations, performed by staff and
users, equivalent to some 30 samples per year. OUUSF staff has limited capacity to perform analyses for
collaborators.
Scientific results of collaborative research may be included in PhD thesis, published in scientific journals,
presented at conferences or disseminated in electronic media.
OUUSF has an extensive web-site URL: http://www2.open.ac.uk/ou-usf/
ANNUAL TARGETS AND PROGRESS TOWARDS THEM
The OUUSF Agreement provides for the equivalent of 165 analyses, equating to 25% of capacity and this has
been achieved. All data were communicated to the PI within the timeframe of the project.
SCORES AT LAST REVIEW (each out of 5)
Need
Uniqueness
3
3.5
CAPACITY of HOST ENTITY
FUNDED by S&F
25 %
Quality of Service
4.5
Date of Last Review:
Quality of Science & Training
4
Staff & Status
Dr P van Calsteren, Senior Research Fellow: 0%
Dr L E Thomas, Project Officer: 100%
Dr A Fazel, Grade E Technician: 50%
January 2006
Average
3.75
Next
Review
(January)
2006
FINANCIAL DETAILS: CURRENT FY
Recurrent
Unit Cost £k
Capital
Income
Allocation £k
Expend £k
£k
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
88.89
539
none
none
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT (by year until end of current agreement) 2007-08 is ‘sunset’ funding
2006-07 88.89
2007-08 143.36
2008-09
2009-10
2010/2011
STEERING COMMITTEE
NIGFSC
Independent Members
7, (chair Prof S Metcalfe)
Meetings per annum
2
Other S&F Overseen
NIGL, AIF, ICSF
Contract
Ends
(31 March)
2007
Full cash
cost £k
88.89
APPLICATIONS: DISTRIBUTION OF GRADES (Current FY — 2006/07)
R*/Pilot
5
4
3
2
1

NERC Grant projects
1
Other academic
5
Students
2
Pilot
1
5
3
1
TOTAL
APPLICATIONS: DISTRIBUTION OF GRADES (per annum average previous 3 years —2004/2005, 2005/2006 & 2006/2007)
R*/Pilot
5
4
3
2
1

NERC Grant projects
.33
.67
Other Academic
.33
3
.33
Students
1
Pilot
.33
.33
3.33
1.33
1
TOTAL
Reject
Reject
PROJECTS COMPLETED (Current FY)
5
4
2
2
NERC Grant projects
Other Academic
Students
Pilot
3
1
5
2
1
Grand
Total
9
1
4
NERC C/S
R*/Pilot
3
*Combined non-Directed and Directed
PAYG
Student
NERC C/S Other
Total NERC
USER PROFILE (current FY)
Infrastructure
Student
Supplement to NERC Grant *
Total NERC

Other
2
NERC Grant*
4
*Combined non-Directed and Directed
PAYG
Student
NERC C/S Other
Total NERC
USER PROFILE (per annum average previous 3 years)
Infrastructure
Grand
Student
Total
Supplement to NERC Grant *
Total NERC
6
.67
3
1.33
NERC C/S
USER PROFILE (current FY)
Academic
5
NERC Fellows
PhD
4
Commercial
NERC Fellows
PhD
3
Commercial
Centre/Survey
USER PROFILE (per annum average previous 3 years)
Academic
Centre/Survey
3
Other
NERC Grant*
2.33
OUTPUT & PERFORMANCE MEASURES (current FY)
Publications (by science area & type)
SBA
ES
MS
AS
TFS
EO
Polar
Grand Total
Refereed
7
7
6
SBA
1
ES
8
Distribution of Projects (by science areas)
MS
AS
TFS
OUTPUT & PERFORMANCE MEASURES (per annum average previous 3 years)
Publications (by science area & type)
SBA
ES
MS
AS
TFS
EO
Polar
Grand Total
Refereed
2.67
3.33
6.33
SBA
.33
ES
5
Earth’s life support systems
Distribution of Projects (by science areas)
MS
AS
TFS
Non-Ref/ Conf Proc
EO
Polar
Non-Ref/ Conf Proc
EO
Distribution of Projects (by NERC strategic priority)
Climate Change
Sustainable Economies
Underpinning Science
9
PhD Theses
1
PhD Theses
.33
Polar
Specific Research
OVERVIEW & ACTIVITIES IN FINANCIAL YEAR (2006/07):
During this report year 9 projects were submitted, one project was invited for resubmission. The 8 new projects were
graded 4m on average. Since 2003 there were 15 active projects, as well as 5 small projects. Five projects form part of
a PhD project and 4 post-graduates are receiving extensive training at the OUUSF laboratory. Five papers involving
OUUSF staff or data were published in peer-reviewed journals, 2 have been submitted.
The MAT262 mass spectrometer has been performing well, with a short interruption when the mains power
distribution unit malfunctioned. Funding from NERC S&F was agreed for replacement and for the duration we have
been operating with a loan unit from Spectromat. A GPIB ultra-fast voltmeter has been installed to perform ‘total
evaporation’ analysis for very small samples. The Nu Instruments MC-ICPMS performed well and is used mainly for
low abundance Th measurements when higher sensitivity is more important than better precision. The new Thermo
Neptune MC-ICPMS is being road-tested to establish if it out-performs the Nu for U-series analysis.
The OUUSF website has been updated and now has an Introduction into Uranium-series methodology, examples of
Projects, lists of Publications and links to the laboratory Risk Assessments. For laboratory users there are also links to
all Standard Operating Procedures and Training Manuals, as well as spreadsheets and compilations of our laboratory
standards and blanks. The intention of this e-documentation is to comply with the spirit of ISO:9000 Quality Assurance
by Quality Control at a day-to-day level and by evaluation of QC data. OUUSF has participated in the IRMM REIMEP18 exercise to certify new U isotope ratio standards.
In a multi-user, multi-project laboratory it is essential to maintain high levels of Quality Control. For this purpose a
total of 18 ‘rock’ standards were analysed as unknowns, as well as 98 Total Procedure Blanks, reagent blanks and shelf
standards traceable to Certified Reference Materials. On the MC-ICPMS 350 traceable standards were analysed in
Sample-Standard analysis protocols.
Papers published in 2006 (numbers since 1998):
36. Thomson, J., Green, D.R., Calsteren, P. van, Richter, T.O., Weering, T.C.E. van. (2006,). Holocene sediment
deposition on a NE Atlantic transect including Feni Drift quantified by radiocarbon and 230Thexcess methods. Earth
and Planetary Science Letters, 242, 170-185. (IP/791/1103) ES
37. Asrat, A., Baker, A., Mohammed, M.U., Leng, L.J., Calsteren, P. van, Smith, C. (2006). A high-resolution multiproxy stalagmite record from Mechara, Southeastern Ethiopia: Paleohydrological implications for speleothem
paleoclimate reconstruction. Journal of Quaternary Science 21(0), 1–10. (IP/786/0902) GC
38. Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C., Gibbard, P.L., Macklin, M.G., Gilmour, M.A. and Smith, G.R. (2006), The Glacial
History of the Pindus Mountains, Greece, Journal of Geology 114, 413–434. (IP/754/0302)
39. Hughes, P.D., Gibbart, P.L.and Woodward, J.C. (2006), Middle Pleistocene glacier behaviour in the Mediterranean:
sedimentological evidence from the Pindus Mountains, Greece. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 163, 857–
867. (IP/754/0302)
40. Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C. and Gibbard, P.L.(2006) Late Pleistocene glaciers and climate in the Mediterranean
region. Global and Planetary Change, 46, 83-98.
41. Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C. and Gibbard, P.L. (2007) Middle Pleistocene cold stage climates in the
Mediterranean: new evidence from the glacial record. Earth and Planetary Science Letters,253(1-2), 50-56.
42. Calsteren, P. van, Thomas, L.E. (2006). Uranium-series dating applications in natural environmental science. Earth
Science Reviews, 75, 155-175.
Science Highlights:
Marshall, J, Quantification of terrestrial climate records, IP/867/1105
Abrupt cooling events are features of Holocene climate. We use lake records from Hawes Water, NW England, to
quantify the impact of two prominent early Holocene climatic events. Sub-decadal oxygen isotope records from
18
sedimentary carbonate ( Oc), dated using TIMS U-series analyses, provide evidence for abrupt cold events, lasting
~50 and ~150 yr at around 9.3 kyr and 8.2 kyr B.P. Mean July air temperatures, inferred from chironomid
assemblages, decreased by ~1.6 °C during each event. Calculations show that the isotopic excursions were dominantly
18
caused by decrease in the isotopic composition of meteoric precipitation ( Op) by ~1.3‰; this is interpreted as a
direct downstream response to cooling and freshening of northeast Atlantic surface
water by melting ice-sheets. Intermediate in magnitude between events observed in
Greenland and central Europe, the effects are consistent with a partial shutdown of
the North Atlantic thermo-haline circulation. Stable isotope data from Hawes
Water provide a sub-decadal record of early Holocene climate variability on the
Atlantic margin of NW Europe. The replicated, sub-decadal data, reveal that the
sub-centennial event 9.3 kyr event had as significant climatic impact as the muchFigure 1. Age model: U-Series
heralded 8.2 kyr event and that both of these regional climatic events led to
dates (1 uncertainty). Solid
circles: rise of significant pollen significant changes in temperature and the isotopic composition of meteoric
taxa horizons, 14C dated.
precipitation (18Op). See: Marshall et al. below.
Gibbard, P: Quaternary glaciations in the Pindus Mountains, Greece. IP/754/0302
Detailed sedimentological analyses of diamicton (till) sequences in two areas of the Pindus Mountains, indicate multiple
episodes of glacier advance and retreat during cold stages of the Middle-Pleistocene. These glacial sequences represent
some of the most southerly in Europe and are important archives of regional and global climate change. The Pindus
glaciers were relatively small by world standards and would have been highly responsive to changes in air temperature
and precipitation. Stacked diamictons separated by gravels, record multiple phases of
Moraine
glacier advance and retreat in the Pindus Mountains. There is evidence of at least
three episodes of glacier advance and retreat during the Skamnellian Stage and of two
phases of advance and retreat during the later Vlasian Stage. These records highlight
the dynamic nature of glacier behaviour in the E Mediterranean mountains during the
Middle Pleistocene and provide new evidence for unstable cold stage climates.
Morpho-stratigraphical position, supported by pedo-stratigraphical evidence, is the
fundamental criterion for establishing the relative age of the glacial sedimentary
units. In these isolated deposits, far-field correlations depend entirely on radiometric
Figure 2. Lake on Mount Tymphi. This
dating, in this case using uranium-series methodology. U-series dating to estimate
seasonal lake occupies a shallow basin
the age of host glacial sediments (Fig 2) is based on the oldest ages obtained from
dammed by moraines. Secondary
secondary carbonates (Fig 3) in a given glacial sedimentary unit. Phases of
calcite cementing the moraines is dated
secondary carbonate formation can take place long after the deposition of the host
to the last interglacial, Marine Isotope
Stage 5e, 120,000 kyr.
sediments, and various calcites may form at a range of different times. Thus,
multiple samples from any given stratigraphic unit should be dated in order to
understand the history of secondary carbonates formation.
The records highlight the dynamic nature of glacier behaviour in the E
Mediterranean mountains during the Middle Pleistocene and provide new evidence
for unstable cold stage climates. U-series dating shows that the Skamnellian Stage is
correlated with the Elsterian Stage of northern Europe and MIS 12 and the Vlasian
Stage is correlated with the late Saalian Stage of northern Europe and MIS 6. The
earliest glacial deposits formed before 350 ky. and a later phase of glaciation took
place before the last interglacial. This represented a marked shift from the common
view for Greece that the glacial sequences formed during the last glacial stage
(Weichselian/Würmian). In the Pindus Mountains complex glacial sedimentological
sequences provide evidence not only for glacial advances during multiple Middle
Pleistocene cold stages, but also for climate instability within single cold stages.
Evidence for the latter is important in understanding variations in former glacier
mass balance and is essential for unravelling complex glacier–climate histories based Figure 3. Pedogenic secondary calcite
(mantle, curtains and stalagmite)
on the glacial record. See: Hughes et al., below.
cementing a moraine deposit.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS/STRATEGIC FORWARD LOOK
Analytical developments:
The performance of the MAT262-RPQ2 instrument for U-series analysis, mainly by ion counting, is on a par with
more modern Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometers but in ‘total evaporation’ mode with the ultra-fast GPIB voltmeter,
outperforms modern instruments for very small samples. The Nu Instruments plasma ionisation mass spectrometer (MCICP-MS) now has fully developed protocols for U-series analyses and is used where sensitivity is of prime importance.
TIMS is used when mass-dependent isotope fractionation and instrument drift, which are both an order of magnitude
better, is a requirement for high precision (for high resolution) and when concentration or availability are not limiting
factors. For Radium the sensitivity of TIMS is easily a factor of 20 better then MC-ICP-MS, and TIMS remains the
instrument of choice. Tests are underway to determine if the U-series-dedicated channeltron configuration on the
Neptune can compete in sensitivity and precision with the discrete dynode ion multipliers on the Nu Instruments. Either
MC-ICPMS can be hyphenated to the Excimer laser ablation system but samples with sufficient U concentration and
age, other then coral, to explore the potential of this technique are fairly rare.
OUUSF is implementing mass spectrometric analysis of 231Pa and Radioactive Risk Assessment, in particular regarding
237
the Np precursor of the 233Pa spike, which required the purchase of a dedicated gamma monitor, has being carried out.
Chemical preparation procedures are now in place.
Strategic look forward:
It is the intention of OUUSF to submit a proposal to NERC S&F to re-establish a Uranium-Series Facility at the
Open University.
Mission Statement
The Uranium-Series Facility is within the Open University Isotope Geochemistry Laboratories at
the Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, PI and Manager: Dr
Peter van Calsteren
OUUSF aims are:
 to facilitate high quality collaborative research into natural processes using U-series isotopes.
 to provide training in the laboratory techniques and the underlying theory for students and research
scientists working in areas of NERC related science, such as recent volcanism, Quaternary climate change,
archaeology and hydrology.
 to develop improved analytical techniques for the mass spectrometric analysis of U-series isotopes in
natural samples.
The Uranium-Series Facility provides the equivalent of one person's training plus analyses per year,
which comprises 25% of present capacity and corresponds to ~165 sample analyses/year, including
duplicates. The Facility has access to the existing isotope preparation labs, a FinniganMAT 262 solid
source mass spectrometer and a Nu Instruments plasma ionisation mass spectrometer at the Open
University.
Researchers and trainees should have, or be prepared to learn the necessary analytical skills for sample
preparation in an ultra clean laboratory, working with radioactive materials, and for using isotope ratio
mass spectrometers.
The Uranium-Series Facility submits an annual report to the NERC Isotope Geochemistry Laboratories
Steering Committee, and reports to the Head of NERC Scientific Services on a semi-annual basis.
1. Steering Committee Membership
Chair: Prof. Sarah Metcalfe
School of Geography
University of Nottingham
Nottingham, NG7 2RD
Tel: +44 (0) 115 8467712
E-mail: sarah.metcalfe@nottingham.ac.uk
Secretary:
Béatrice Bullock-von Moos
NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory
British Geological Survey
Kingsley Dunham Centre
Keyworth, NG12 5GG
Members:
Tel. 0115 / 936 3425
Switchboard 0115 / 936 3100
bbullock@bgs.ac.uk
Dr Julian E Andrews
School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia
Norwich, NR4 7TJ
Tel: 0160 359 2536
E-mail: j.andrews@uea.ac.uk
<mailto:j.andrews@uea.ac.uk>
Dr Philip A Barker
Department of Geography
Lancaster University
Lancaster, LA1 4YB
Tel: 0152 459 3756
E-mail: p.barker@lancaster.ac.uk
Ex-officio:
Dr Peter van Calsteren
Department of Earth Sciences
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Tel: 0190 865 2889/655151
E-mail: p.v.calsteren@open.ac.uk
Prof. Tony E Fallick
SUERC
Rankine Avenue
East Kilbride
Prof. Colin Graham
School of GeoSciences
The University of Edinburgh
Grant Institute
The King's Buildings
West Mains Road
EDINBURGH EH9 3JW
Tel: 0131 650 4849
E-mail: Colin.Graham@ed.ac.uk
Prof. Julian Henderson
Department of Archaeology
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD
Tel: 0115 951 4840
E-mail: julian.henderson@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr Clive M Rice
College of Physical Science
School of Geosciences
Geology & Petroleum Geology
Meston Building
King’s College
Aberdeen, AB24 3UE
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 273433
E-mail: c.rice@abdn.ac.uk
Glasgow, G75 0QU
Tel: 01355 270139
E-mail: T.Fallick@suerc.gla.ac.uk
Dr Adrian J Boyce
SUERC
Rankine Avenue
East Kilbride
Glasgow, G75 0QU
Tel: 01355 270143
E-mail: a.boyce@suerc.gla.ac.uk
Dr Fin M Stuart
SUERC
Rankine Avenue
East Kilbride
Glasgow, G75 0QU
Tel: 01355 270139
E-mail: f.stuart@suerc.gla.ac.uk
Dr R Lin F Kay
Science and Innovation Funding
NERC
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 0179 341 1500
E-mail: rlfk@nerc.ac.uk
Prof. Randy R Parrish
NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory
British Geological Survey
Kingsley Dunham Centre
Keyworth
Nottingham, NG12 5GG
Tel: 0115 936 3427
E-mail: r.parrish@nigl.nerc.ac.uk
Prof. Melanie J Leng
NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory
British Geological Survey
Kingsley Dunham Centre
Keyworth
Nottingham, NG12 5GG
Tel: +44 (0) 115 936 3515
Fax: +44 (0) 115 936 3302
E-mail: mjl@nigl.nerc.ac.uk
Steering Committee Remit
The NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities Steering Committee exists to:
review applications for use of:
the NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory;
the Argon Isotope Facility at the SUERC;
the Isotope Community Support Facility at the SUERC; and
the Open University Uranium Series Facility
monitor outputs from these Facilities;
provide advice to the Director, Science and Innovation Funding on aspects of the operations of
these Facilities.
The Director, Science and Innovation Funding, in turn, provides advice to the Science and Technology
Board of Council on Services and Facilities relevant to their remit.
Steering Committee Terms of Reference
1.
To review applications and to establish priorities for the Heads of these Facilities in the allocation
of those of the Facilities’ resources funded from the Science and Innovation Funding allocation,
taking into account NERC Strategy and recommendations made through the NERC peer-review
mechanisms.
2.
To review the scientific quality of work undertaken by users utilising these Facilities, based on
reports and publications.
3.
To monitor the level of user-satisfaction with the Facilities, and to analyse the user-base.
4.
To give guidance to the Heads of these Facilities on improvement of the Facilities’ equipment and
on their service function.
5.
To advise the Director, Science and Innovation Funding on:
6.
a)
the level and direction of the internal R & D programme for these Facilities;
b)
the anticipated levels of future demand and any consequential anticipated changes in
resource requirements from these Facilities.
c)
on other matters, as appropriate and reasonable.
To receive annually a report from the Heads of these Facilities, and comment through the Chair on
them before passing them to the Director, Science and Innovation Funding.
2. Equipment Inventory
OUUSF does not own any equipment
3. Future Developments.
In situ analysis:
The sensitivity of our MC-ICPMS is such that it is be possible to measure (234U/238U) and (230Th/232Th)
in situ in coral samples using our UV excimer laser ablation system. This technique has important
applications in marine climate change studies. The energy of the laser at the ablation point is such that a
short-lived Laser-Induced Plasma is produced and this adds another process by which mass and element
fractionation takes place. The use of appropriate coral standards is essential and it is not simple to find a
suitable standard that is homogeneous at the spatial resolution that is required. However, age variation
patterns are much easier to resolve and this is frequently the main purpose.
Protactium and Radium
OUUSF now has methods for mass spectrometric analysis of 231Pa, the daughter of 235U with a half-life
of ~35,000 y. Radioactive Risk Assessment, in particular regarding the 237Np precursor of the 233Pa spike, has
been completed and approved. An analytical method to purify protactinium from silicate rocks was
published recently (Regelous et al., 2004), but there are some complications regarding the analysis of
carbonate-rich samples.
231
Pa dating can provide confirmation of ages obtained by 230Th dating. Two independent estimates of
the age from the same sample would be useful for dating of speleothem carbonate and particularly in
archaeological bone using the Oxford U-uptake model (Millard and Hedges, 1996), recently further
developed for U-series (see Pike et al., 2002).
231
Pa has found application in coral dating (Mortlock et al., 2005, Edwards et al., 1997). In open
oceans, 231Pa and 230Th are removed from the water column by a process of reversible scavenging (Moran
et al., 2002, Moran et al., 2005) which quickly removes 230Th to the sediment. 231Pa is less efficiently
scavenged onto particles than 230Th and is therefore more effectively transported via advection and
diffusion before it reaches the ocean sediment. The equilibrium partition coefficients for particulate versus
dissolved matter may vary with particle type and the (231Pa / 230Th) activity ratio can be of great use in
paleo-oceanographic studies.
The U-series sub-system 230Th-226Ra has a half-life of 1602y which makes it highly appropriate for
systems with millennial ages. Using TIMS with ion counting we can analyse <4 femtogram 226Ra routinely
and this is essential because 226Ra is present at the femtogram/gram level in geological materials. The age
of a sample is calculated from the 226Ra/Ba ratio in the sample relative to present day 226Ra/Ba. The
uncertainty in 226Ra/Ba ages depends mostly on the assumption that 226Ra/Ba has remained constant. This
is a reasonable assumption because Ra and Ba have very similar geochemical characteristics. TIMS 226Ra
dating has never previously been applied to speleothem samples and an application in conjunction with
lamina counting that would re-enforce confidence in both methods and confirm the validity of the 226Ra/Ba
dating method in young authigenic carbonates in Holocene speleothems, is being developed.
Authigenic minerals precipitates from groundwater.
Long-standing assumptions in U-series dating of authigenic minerals are that all accumulated 230Th is
from in-situ decay of 234Uand only U and no Th is transported in ground water. The concentration of trace
elements in water is determined by temperature, pH, redox conditions, concentration of anionic ligands and
complex ions formation. Residence time in groundwater is a function of the rate of leaching, stability of
complex ions, and adsorption onto particulate matter or incorporation into authigenic minerals. The
resulting U/Th in groundwater is usually > 10,000.
Contrary to expectations, recent work at The Open University has shown that Th and U have similar
concentrations in oxygenated ground water in the Great Artesian Basin, Australia. It is likely that U and Th
speciation is the determining factor for this unexpected behaviour and furthermore this makes the longstanding U-series dating assumptions questionable. Any 230Th that is not derived from in-situ decay but is
transported in ground water must therefore be accounted for before meaningful ages can be calculated.
The theoretical framework for the behaviour of U and Th in ground water can now be tested due to
recent advances in analytical technology. These recent advances allow the speciation of U and Th to be
determined at the low concentration levels encountered in groundwater.
To assess the effects of 230Th transportability in groundwater is is necessary to:
1. determine the speciation of U and Th isotopes in groundwater;
2. develop a thermodynamic framework for the speciations;
3. evaluate the importance of these findings for U-series dating of authigenic minerals.
Our new generation ThermoFinnigan Neptune (SM-ICPMS) with multi-channeltron ion counting is be able
to measure pico-gram quantities of analyte purified by hyphenated High-Performance LiquidChromatography (HPLC).
4. Summary of Performance Information
Projects active in 2006/2007
analysed 2006
Sience area
Prof J
GR9/1034
NT R
ES
GC
a3mid
40
33 done
2003 IP/791/1103
H-0160 Southampton
SOC
Thomson
Prof J
Acad collaboration
NT O
ES
GC
a4h
15
35 done
2003 IP/793/1103
H-0149 UCL
Geography
Mackay
Dr
NER/S//2002/10423
NT S
ES
GC
a4low
30
40 done
2004 IP/825/11-04 H-0141 Royal Holloway
Geography
Lowe
Prof JJ
MSc
NT
S
ES
GC
a3mid
6
43 done
2005 IP/861/0505
H-0126 Liverpool
E&O science
Marshall
Prof J
GR3/11219
NT R
S
ES
GC
R*
44 active
2005 IP/862/0505
H-0152 Loughborough
Geography
Candy
Dr
Acad collaboration
NT O
ES
GC
a5
10 10
46 active
2005 IP/864/0505
H-0073 Plymouth
Geography
Roberts
Prof CN Acad collaboration
NT O
ES
GC
a4low
50 29
47 active
2005 IP/865/0505
H-0121 Keele
School ES&G
Gertisser
Dr
Acad collaboration
NT O
ES
GC
a4m
15
48 active
2005 IP/867/1105
H-0126 Liverpool
E&O science
Marshall
Prof J
NER/A/S/2002/00885
NT S
S
ES
GC
a4m
61 32
49 active
2005 IP/877/1105
H-0110 Birmingham
SGEES
Baker
Dr
A
Acad collaboration
NT O
S
ES
GC
a4m
50 active
2005 IP/878/1105
H-0204 Manchester
Geography
Woodward
Dr
J
Acad collaboration
NT O
ES
GC
a4low
30 18
51 active
2006 IP/906/0506
H-0155 Nottingham
Geography
Metcalfe
Prof S
Acad collaboration
NT O
ES
GC
a4m
15
52 active
2006 IP/910/0506
H-0073 Plymouth
SEOES
Stokes
Dr
Acad collaboration
NT O
ES
GC
pilot-a3h
53 active
2006 IP/911/0506
H-0112 Bristol
Archaeology
Zilhao
Prof J
Acad collaboration
NT O
54 active
2006 IP/912/0506
H-0160 Southampton
SOES,NOC,S
Mills
Dr
RA Acad collaboration
55 active
2006 IP/929/1106
H-0116 Durham
Earth Sciences
Searle
Prof RC NE/C5205981/1
56 active
2006 IP/932/1106
H-0110 Birmingham
SGEES
Baker
Dr
Acad collaboration
NT O
57 active
2006 IP/937/1106
H-0156 Oxford
OUCE
Thomas
Prof D
NER/S/A/2005/13353
NT S
58 active
2006 IP/938/1106
H-0124 Leeds
Geography
Lawson
Dr
Acad collaboration
NT O
59 active
2006 IP/939/1106
H-0117 UEA
SES
Andrews
Prof J
NER/A/2005/13582
NT R
A
I
R
M
A
IT
S
allocation
Mode
McArthur
University
Type
Nerc Ref No
Geology
HESA
Student
PI title
ENRI Grade
H-0149 UCL
Year IP number
PI initial
PI name
2002 IP/787/0902
Status
Institute
30 done
#
6 13
6 14
SBA GC
a4low
24
NT O
ES
GC
a4h
15
NT R
ES
GC
R*
S
ES
GC
a4m
10
S
ES
GC
a3high
50 12
ES
GC
a4h
24
ES
GC
a3high
18 18
S
2
5. Publication details
Papers published in 2003-5 (numbers since 1998)
20. Genty, D., Blamart, D., Ouhadi, R., Gilmour, M., Baker, A., Jouzel, J., Van Exeter, S. (2003)
Greenland ice core chronologies constrained by Dansgaard-Oescher events preserved in a SW France
Stalagmite (32-83 ka). Nature 421, 833-837. (IP/615/0999) ES
21. Frumkin, A., Shimron, A., Rosenbaum, F. (2003) Radiometric dating of the Siloam Tunnel, Jerusalem.
Nature 425, 169-171. (OUUSF) SBA
22. Leeder, M.R., McNeill, L.C. Collier, R.E.L., Portman, C., Rowe, P.J., Andrews, J.E. Gawthorpe, R.L.
Corinth rift margin uplift: New evidence from Late Quaternary marine shorelines. Geophys. Res. Lett.
30(12), art. no.-1611. (IP/614/0999) ES
23. Seth, B, Thirlwall, MF, Houghton, SL, (2003). Accurate measurements of Th-U isotope ratios for
carbonate geochronology using MC-ICP-MS. J. Anal. Atom Spectrom. 18 (11), 1323-1330.
(IP/787/0902) ES
24. Houghton, S.L., Roberts, G.P., Papanikolaou, I.D., MacArthur, J.L. Gilmour, M.A.(2003). New U-234Th-230 coral dates from the western Gulf of Corinth: Implications for extensional tectonics. Geophys.
Res. Lett. 30 (19), art. no.-2013. (IP/787/0902) ES
25. Eggins, S. Grun, R., Pike, A., Shelley, M. and Taylor, L. (2003) U and Th profiling and U-series
isotope analysis of teeth by laser ablation-ICPMS. Quaternary Science Reviews 22, 1373-1382.
(IP/700/0301) SBA
26. Pike, A.W.G & Pettitt, P.B. (2003) U-series dating and human evolution. Reviews in Mineralogy and
Geochemistry 52, 607-629. (IP/700/0301) SBA
27. Hughes, P.D., Gibbard, P.L. & Woodward, J.C. (2003) Relict rock glaciers as indicators of
Mediterranean palaeoclimate during the Last Glacial Maximum (Late Würmian) of northwest Greece.
Journal of Quaternary Science 18, 431-440. (IP/754/0302) ES
28. Zellmer G.F., Hawkesworth C.J., Sparks R.S.J., Thomas L.E., Harford, C.L., Brewer T.S., Loughlin,
S.C. (2003) Geochemical evolution of the Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, Lesser Antilles
volcanic arc. Journal of Petrology 44, 1349-1374. (IP/633/0999) ES
29. Garnett, E.R., Gilmour, M.A, Rowe, P.J., Andrews, J.E., Preece, R.C. (2004) 230Th/234U dating of
Holocene tufas: possibilities and problems. Quaternary Science Reviews 23, 947–958. (IP/692/0301)
ES
30. Braithwaite C.J., Dalmasso H., Gilmour M.A., Harkness D.D., Henderson G.M., Kay R.L.F., Kroon D.,
Montaggioni L.F., Wilson P.A. (2004) The Great Barrier Reef: The chronological record from a new
borehole. J. Sedimentary Res. 74 (2), 298-310. (OUUSF) ES
31. McNeill L.C., Collier R.E.L. (2004) Uplift and slip rates of the eastern Eliki fault segment, Gulf of
Corinth, Greece, inferred from Holocene and Pleistocene terraces. J. Geol. Soc. 161(1), 81-92.
(IP/614/0999) ES
32. Thesis: P.D. Hughes (2004) Quaternary Glaciation in the Pindus Mountains, Northwest Greece. Ph.D.
thesis, Darwin College, University of Cambridge. 341.
33. Zellmer G.F., Annen, C., Charlier, B.L.A., George, R.M.M., Turner, S.P., Hawkesworth, C.J. (2005)
Magma evolution and ascent at volcanic arcs: constraining petrogenetic processes through rates and
chronologies. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 140, 171-191. (IP/633/0999) ES
34. Pike, A.W.G., Eggins, S. Grun,R., Hedges, R.E.M., Jacobi, R.M.(2005) U-series dating of the Late
Pleistocene mammalian fauna from Wood Quarry (Steetley), Nottinghamshire, UK. Journal of
Quaternary Science 20(1), 59–65. (IP/654/0300) SBA
35. Pike, A.W.G., Gilmour, M., Pettitt, P., Jacobi, R., Ripoll, S., Bahn, P., Munoz, F. (2005) Verification of
the age of the Palaeolithic cave art at Creswell Crags, UK. Journal of Archaeological Science 32,
1649-1655. (IP/654/0300) SBA
Papers published in 2006:
36. Thomson, J., Green, D.R., Calsteren, P. van, Richter, T.O., Weering, T.C.E. van. (2006,). Holocene
sediment deposition on a NE Atlantic transect including Feni Drift quantified by radiocarbon and
230
Thexcess methods. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 242, 170-185. (IP/791/1103) ES
37. Asrat, A., Baker, A., Mohammed, M.U., Leng, L.J., Calsteren, P. van, Smith, C. (2006). A highresolution multi-proxy stalagmite record from Mechara, Southeastern Ethiopia: Paleohydrological
implications for speleothem paleoclimate reconstruction. Journal of Quaternary Science 21(0), 1–10.
(IP/786/0902) GC
38. Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C., Gibbard, P.L., Macklin, M.G., Gilmour, M.A. and Smith, G.R. (2006),
The Glacial History of the Pindus Mountains, Greece, Journal of Geology 114, 413–434.
(IP/754/0302)
39. Hughes, P.D., Gibbart, P.L.and Woodward, J.C. (2006), Middle Pleistocene glacier behaviour in the
Mediterranean: sedimentological evidence from the Pindus Mountains, Greece. Journal of the
Geological Society, London, 163, 857–867. (IP/754/0302)
40. Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C. and Gibbard, P.L.(2006) Late Pleistocene glaciers and climate in the
Mediterranean region. Global and Planetary Change, 46, 83-98.
41. Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C. and Gibbard, P.L. (2007) Middle Pleistocene cold stage climates in the
Mediterranean: new evidence from the glacial record. Earth and Planetary Science Letters,253(1-2),
50-56.
42. Calsteren, P. van, Thomas, L.E. (2006). Uranium-series dating applications in natural environmental
science. Earth Science Reviews, 75, 155-175.
Marshall, J.D., Weedon, G.P., Lang, B., Kiriakoulakis, K., Fisher, E.H., Crowley, S.F., Ball, J.D., Jones,
R,T., Calsteren, P. van, Bedford, A., Brooks, S,J., Muscheler, R., Johnsen, S. (Geology, in press).
Early Holocene climate in NW Europe - abrupt events, centennial variability, and solar influence.
(IP/672/0900) GC
Targets & Milestones

instrument utilisation;
The OUUSF Agreement is for the utilisation of 25% of the U-series laboratory capacity, equivalent to
approximately 165 samples per year and this target has been achieved. 148 samples were analysed for SCapproved projects, 18 rock standards were analysed to assess the full analytical process, 98 analyses were
performed to assess the efficiency and blank levels of the chemical procedures and 350 solution standards
were analysed on the Nu Instruments to correct for drift and fractionation.

allocation of capacity and effort;
Instrument and laboratory time for OUUSF operations were scheduled in consultation with other users and
there was no friction.

throughput;
Sample turn-around time has not been affected significantly by the occasionally less-than optimal situation
in the laboratory.

response times and data delivery to customers;
Analytical results have always been submitted to PI’s within the agreed time-frame. Further
communications regarding interpretations and publication are always conducted with the highest priority.

user satisfaction;
Details of the complaints procedure are on the OUUSF website; no complaints were made.

scheduled maintenance, calibrations, planned contingency, down time due to external factors
etc.;
The MAT262 has been out of action for one week to assess the problem with the mains distribution unit,
but schedules were recovered very soon afterwards.

summary of internal R&D output;
New models have been developed and tested to interpret U-series data. This includes a mixing model to
assess and correct for allogenic 230Th components for moderate contributions and a simple subtraction
model where that is justified for very small allogenic contributions. In the latter case, simple subtraction is
more appropriate because it avoids propagation of the relatively large uncertainty inherent in the
determination of small amounts of 232Th. A further model has been perfected to evaluate ‘open system’
behaviour but sofar that has only been used to illustrate whole-sale open system behaviour, rather then
extracting meaningful ages from unsatisfactory data.
6.
Finance
Details are included in the account filed by the The Open University Finance Division.
7. Service Management
Peter van Calsteren is Principal Investigator and Manager of OUUSF as Senior Research Fellow in the
Faculty of Science at The Open University. Louise Thomas is Project Officer and is OUUSF-funded
through the NERC-OU Agreement. Dela Fazel is Part-Time (50%) Grade E Technician, OUUSF-funded
through the NERC-OU Agreement. Dela has been awarded her PhD recently. All OUUSF staff are
employed by The Open University on its standard Terms and Conditions.
Funding for 2007-08 is intended as ‘sunset’ funding, however, current planning indicates that the
approved analytical program cannot be completed in that time-frame, even before taking into consideration
2 projects submitted to the Steering Committee in spring 2007 and IP/929/1106 for which samples have not
yet been collected by dredging from Reykjanes Ridge.