SERVICES & FACILITIES ANNUAL REPORT - FY April 2005 to March 2006
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 research in environmental sciences and science-based archaeology using
Uranium-series methodologies. Original investigations are carried out in collaboration with NERC
stakeholders in the pursuit of knowledge and better understanding of the Earth system. U-series analyses are
an essential component of research projects in Earth and environmental science, oceanography, hydrology
and science-based archaeology. Topics include magma evolution and volcanic hazard prediction, global
climatic change through dating of authigenic carbonate deposits, and human evolution through dating of
bone, and the study of groundwater evolution.
Uranium-series determinations, i.e. 234U/238U, 230Th/232Th, 230Th/234U ratios, U, Th and Ra concentrations by
isotope dilution, are performed on a dedicated TIMS 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). 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 water.
OUUSF provides the equivalent of one user-year of training and analyses per annum, which represents
25% of Open University Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory (OUIGL) capacity and corresponds to circa 165
project samples. Quality Assurance is maintained through the repeated analysis of internal standards and
Certified Reference Materials, reagent and total-procedure blanks and calibrations, performed by staff and
users, equivalent to some 30 samples per year.
Collaborators should have, or be prepared to learn at the OUUSF, the analytical skills necessary for
successful processing of samples in a clean room, for working with radioactive materials, and for using
isotope ratio mass spectrometers. OUIGL and OUUSF staff are primarily involved in supervision of postgraduates and have 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
4
4.5
CAPACITY of HOST ENTITY
FUNDED by S&F
25 %
Quality of Service
4.5
Staff & Status
Dr P van Calsteren, Senior Research Fellow: 0%
Dr L E Thomas, Project Officer: 100%
Grade E Technician, 50% Jason Harvey
FINANCIAL DETAILS: CURRENT FY
Recurrent
Unit Cost £k
Allocation £k
Unit 1
Unit 2
88.89
539
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT (by year until end of current agreement)
2005-06 83.29
2006-07 88.89
2007-08
STEERING COMMITTEE
NIGFSC
Date of Last Review:
Quality of Science & Training
4.5
Independent Members
7, (chair Prof S Metcalfe)
2008-09
Meetings per annum
2
Next
Review
(January)
2006
Capital
Expend £k
none
Unit 3
Average
4.38
Income
£k
none
2009/2010
Other S&F Overseen
NIGL, AIF, ICSF
Contract
Ends
(31 March)
2007
Full cash
cost £k
88.89
APPLICATIONS: DISTRIBUTION OF GRADES (Current FY — 2005/06)
R*/Pilot
5
4
3
2
1

NERC Grant projects
Other academic
1
5
3
Students
Pilot
TOTAL
APPLICATIONS: DISTRIBUTION OF GRADES (per annum average previous 3 years —2003/2004, 2004/2005 & 2005/2006)
R*/Pilot
5
4
3
2
1

NERC Grant projects
.67
Other Academic
.33
1.67
1
2.67
Students
1
Pilot
.33
2.33
2
2.67
TOTAL
Reject
1
Reject
1
1
PROJECTS COMPLETED (Current FY)
5
4
2
2
1
NERC Grant projects
Other Academic
Students
Pilot
3
2
1
4
4
2
Infrastructure
Student
Supplement to NERC Grant *
Total NERC
6
1
3
NERC C/S
Other
1
USER PROFILE (per annum average previous 3 years)
Infrastructure
Grand
Student
Total
Supplement to NERC Grant *
Total NERC
4.33
.67
2
.33
USER PROFILE (current FY)
Academic
Centre/Survey
6
USER PROFILE (per annum average previous 3 years)
Academic
Centre/Survey
4
.33
*Combined non-Directed and Directed
PAYG
Student
NERC C/S Other
Total NERC
NERC Grant*
2
NERC C/S
Other
ES
5
.33
NERC Fellows
PhD
3
Commercial
NERC Fellows
PhD
2
Commercial
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
2.33
3
5.33
SBA
1
ES
5
Earth’s life support systems
*Combined non-Directed and Directed
PAYG
Student
NERC C/S Other
Total NERC
NERC Grant*
OUTPUT & PERFORMANCE MEASURES (current FY)
Publications (by science area & type)
SBA
ES
MS
AS
TFS
EO
Polar
Grand Total
Refereed
5
5
SBA
R*/Pilot
1
USER PROFILE (current FY)
Grand
Total

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
3.67
PhD Theses
PhD Theses
Polar
Specific Research
2.33
OVERVIEW & ACTIVITIES IN FINANCIAL YEAR (2005/06):
During this report year 9 projects were submitted, one project was ruled out and 2 invited for resubmission.
The 6 new projects were graded 4m on average with one project at 5. Since 2002 there were 16 active
projects, including 5 small projects. Four projects form part of a PhD project and 4 post-graduates are receiving
more or less extensive training at the OUUSF. Five papers involving OUUSF staff or data were published in
peer-reviewed journals, 3 have been submitted.
The MAT 262 mass spectrometer has been performing well, but there have been some further interruption
ultimately caused by because of flooding in the plant-room above the laboratory in 2004. Replacement of some
electronic units, including the magnet power supply and the focussing unit, required the installation of new
software, and was paid for by the University Insurers. The bonus for U-series analysis is that replacements
resulted in up-grades. Short-term delays to some analytical work have been overcome by re-scheduling and
through the flexibility of the involved staff.
SRIF-3 funding has been secured for the remaining two-thirds of a new mass spectrometer and evaluation of
the analytical results of the three tenders is nearing completion.
The OUUSF website has been refurbished and now has details of the OUUSF funding arrangement and
application procedure, Introduction into Uranium-series methodology, some examples of Projects, lists of
Publications and links to the laboratory Risk Assessments. For internal 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 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.
In a multi-user, multi-project laboratory it is essential to maintain high levels of Quality Control and 20
whole-rock standards have been analysed for this purpose. Moreover, within OUIGL analyses have been
carried out on 103 shelf standards and Certified Reference Materials to ascertain instrument performance
standards, as well as 87 reagent and procedure blanks to check chemical procedures.
Papers published in 2005:
(1)
Zellmer G.F. et al: Magma evolution and ascent at volcanic arcs: constraining petrogenetic processes
through rates and chronologies. J. of Volcanology and Geothermal Res. 140, 171-191. (IP/633/0999) ES
(2)
Pike, A.W.G. et al: U-series dating of the Late Pleistocene mammalian fauna from Wood Quarry
(Steetley), Nottinghamshire, UK. J. of Quaternary Science 20(1), 59–65. (IP/654/0300) SBA
(3)
Pike, A.W.G. et al: Verification of the age of the Palaeolithic cave art at Creswell Crags, UK. J. of
Archaeological Sci. 32, 1649-1655. (IP/654/0300) SBA
(4)
Thomson, J. et al: Holocene sediment deposition on a NE Atlantic transect including Feni Drift
quantified by radiocarbon and 230Thexcess methods. Earth Planet. Sci. Let., 242, 170-185. (IP/791/1103) ES
(5)
Calsteren, P. van, Thomas, L.E. Uranium-series dating applications in natural environmental science.
Earth Sci. Rev., 75, 155-175.
SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS: Sedimentation rates in the NE Atlantic Ocean
In seawater, unlike U, 230Th is particle-reactive and is rapidly removed with the sediment rain. This results
in a flux of 230Th to the sea floor depending on the depth of the overlying water column, and not supported by
U. An important application of this method is the assessment of changes in sediment accumulation over time in
cores from the open ocean. We applied the 230Thxs method to sediments from drifts and determine a focussing
factor calculated as the amount of 230Thxs actually present in a sediment section divided by the amount that
could have been produced in the overlying water column over the same period of time.
Our work (4) tests the validity of the sediment focusing concept,. by determining the rate of 230Th
deposition in a set of cores from the northeast Atlantic that includes a sub-set from the Feni Drift contourite.
Sediment accumulation rates for the Holocene are calculated using 14C ages. When comparing 14C-sediment
accumulation rates, precision measurements of 230Th reveal that the levels present in carbonate ooze sediments
match or slightly exceed the potential supply from the vertically overlying water column. The 230Thxs values in
carbonate ooze sediments all imply a constant regionally averaged sedimentation flux of 2.0± 0.2 (1σ) g cm-2
ky-1 rather than matching the 230Th fluxes implied by the radiocarbon data.
Consistently higher and more variable regional sediment accumulation fluxes are calculated from the Feni
Drift 230Thxs data with the constant flux assumption (average 2.8± 0.4 g cm-2 ky-1), some 40% higher than the
constant value measured in the other cores. It seems likely that the mean sediment accumulation flux at Feni
Drift inside Rockall Trough is consistently higher than on the open ocean margin of the basin, so that the
regionally averaged sedimentation fluxes indicated for the Drift by the measured 230Thxs data are also
consistently higher than the singular value measured elsewhere in the northeast Atlantic. Sediment from drifts
are favoured in many research projects because the high accumulation rates allow better time resolution but it
may well be that not all characteristics of drift sediments are truly local.
SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS: dating Banwell Bone zone fauna from Wood Quarry.
We use the diffusion-adsorption model (a physico-chemical description of U uptake and predicts the spatial
distribution of U within the bone) to calculate concentration profiles in bone and when measured and calculated
profiles agree, an open system correction can be applied to the calculation of U-series ages. This approach
represents a significant advance in improving the reliability of U-series dating of bone.
The relative sequence of faunal change in Britain remains poorly supported by radiogenic ages. One
important faunal assemblage-zone, the Banwell Bone zone, is a low diversity vertebrate fauna within which
bison (Bison priscus) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are the dominant. We have dated bones from Wood
Quarry, a fauna attributed to the Banwell Bone zone (2). The results for Wood Quarry bones give a weighted
mean date of 66.8±3.0 ka, within or just before MOI Stage 4. This fauna is correlated with the Banwell Bone
Cave mammal assemblage-zone of the Early Devensian. Our results support the thesis that this assemblage-zone
immediately precedes the assemblage in nearby Pin Hole Cave at Creswell Crags which is Mid-Devensian and
correlates with MIS Stage 3.
The absence of evidence for human activity in this mammal assemblage, despite the mild interstadial
conditions when a human presence might be expected, is of interest. During the Late Pleistocene in Britain
humans appear to have been present intermittently. The key to understanding the re-colonisation of Britain by
humans may lie in the understanding of the chronologies of the Banwell Bone Cave and Pin Hole mammalian
assemblage-zones and their relationship to the changing geography and climate at these times.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS/STRATEGIC FORWARD LOOK
Analytical developments:
The recent upgrades of the FinniganMAT262-II by Spectromat with a new magnet current controller,
focussing unit and system power supply required the installation of new software for instrument control and
data evaluation. The performance of this instrument for U-series analysis, mainly by ion counting, is on a par
with more modern Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometers. More effort has been expended in developing
protocols for U-series analyses with the Nu Instruments plasma ionisation mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS).
TIMS and MC-ICPMS both have strong points and disadvantages. Plasma Ionisation Mass Spectrometry is
more sensitive for Th and U and the preferred option for small, young, low uranium samples, but massdependent isotope fractionation and instrument drift are both an order of magnitude worse than with TIMS over
the whole concentration range. TIMS is the preferred instrument where concentration and availability are not a
limiting factors and where high precision (for high resolution) is a requirement. For Radium the sensitivity of
TIMS is easily a factor of 20 better then MC-ICP-MS, and TIMS remains the instrument of choice. The MCICPMS can be hyphenated to the Excimer laser ablation system and exploratory work is carried out to explore
the potential and limitations of this technique.
OUUSF has excellent capabilities for the analysis of Radium by isotope dilution in volcanic rocks; PvC is
Co-I on an SRG application with SGEES, Birmingham to expand this capability to Holocene stalagmites for
paleoclimate research.
OUUSF is implementing 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, is being carried
out. A proposal for 231Pa analysis of for oceanographic research has been submitted to NIGFSC and further work
involving archaeological samples is anticipated.
Strategic look forward:
Emphasis on paleo-climate research by NERC and many others means that U-series dating of authigenic
carbonates will remain of crucial importance to researchers that exploit ever more ingenious proxies of climate
variables. Our capability to use Ra for dating authigenic carbonate up to 8000y allows closer connection of the
geological proxy archive with instrumental data of the last century.
Our ‘consulting’ role in the design of projects is becoming more prominent and allows us to collaborate
with researchers who may not yet fully appreciate the potential and limitations of U-series methodology in
environmental research. Small pilot projects to make initial assessments of the suitability of samples are a
valuable means of increasing our expertise, both to what can and cannot be done.
Non-Mandatory Facility-specific OPMs: utilisation, allocation of capacity etc
1. 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.
2. 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 Jeff R Bacon
The Macaulay Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen, AB15 8QH
Tel: 0122 449 8200
E-mail: j.bacon@macaulay.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
Dr Philip A Barker
Department of Geography
Lancaster University
Lancaster, LA1 4YB
Tel: 0152 459 3756
E-mail: p.barker@lancaster.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
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
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
Rankine Avenue
East Kilbride
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.
3. Equipment Inventory
OUUSF does not own any equipment
4. Future Developments.
NERC S&F has indicated that it will make best endeavours to allocate funds from the 2006 NERC
Services and Facilities Capital Budget to cover a maximum of one-third of the replacement costs for the
ageing mass-spectrometer at the Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, for proportional use
in the NERC-OU-Uranium-Series Facility. This will be conditional on a favourable facility review by the
Services Review Group in January 2006 (following Steering Committee endorsement) and subsequent
Council approval of OUUSF contract renewal. The Open University has confirmed the balance from its
SRIF-3 allocation.
In situ analysis:
The sensitivity of our MC-ICPMS is such that it should be possible, in favourable circumstances, to
measure (234U/238U) and (230Th/232Th) in situ using our UV excimer laser ablation system. This technique has
important applications for instance in stalagmite and bone samples but also for individual silicate minerals,
including zircons. However, the energy of the laser at the ablation point is such that a short-lived LaserInduced Plasma is produced and this adds another process by which mass and element fractionation takes
place and it is essential to develop and calibrate sophisticated data reduction protocols.
Protactium and Radium
OUUSF is implementing 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, is
being carried out. An analytical method to purify protactinium from silicate rocks was published recently
(Regelous et al., 2004), but applications are rare in recent years. Progress has been made in adapting this
method for use with carbonates.
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). 231Pa 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.
Hydrogeology
Oxygenated recharge waters in aquifers have extremely high U/Th and high 230Th/232Th, but both
decrease with time under reducing conditions. Combined with other trace element characteristics and data
from groundwater flow models, U-series isotopes may be used to determine residence times in aquifers
(Osmond and Cowart, 1992). This approach has potentially important applications for drinking water
extraction, and elsewhere for understanding the likely effects of discharges from the nuclear and other
industries.
Trace element and U-series geochemical studies of large river systems and watersheds can help to
constrain continental erosion rates, the role of silicate weathering on atmospheric CO2 consumption, and to
quantify chemical fluxes to the oceans
5. Summary of Performance Information
Projects active in 2005/2006
allocation
analysed 2005
type
student
mode
4/5
5/6
active
done
17
2000 IP/654/0300
H-0112 University of Bristol
Earth Sciences
Hawkesworth
Prof
CJ
CS
O
Acad collaboration
ES ER&H a4
30
4
active
done
25
2001 IP/693/0301
H-0114 University of Cambridge
Geography
Oppenheimer
Dr
C
CS
O
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a3h
20
5
active
done
26
2001 IP/694/0301
H-0116 University of Durham
Geology
Davidson
Prof
J
CS
O
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a3h
20
3
active
done
28
2002 IP/754/0302
H-0114 University of Cambridge
Geography
Gibbard
Dr
P
CS
O S
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a3m
15
8
active
done
29
2002 IP/786/0902
H-0154 University of Newcastle
Geography
Baker
Dr
A
CS
O S
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a4
8
3
active
done
30
2002 IP/787/0902
H-0149 University College London
Geology
McArthur
Prof
J
NT
R
S
GR9/1034
ES GC
a3m
40
8
active
done
35
2003 IP/793/1103
H-0149 University College London
Geography
Mackay
Dr
A
NT
R
S
NER/S//2002/10423
ES GC
a4l
30 26
active
43
2005 IP/867/1105
H-0126 University of Liverpool
E&O science
Marshall
Prof
J
NT
R
S
GR3/11219
ES GC
a4m
80 12
active
44
2005 IP/862/0505
H-0152 Loughborough University
Geography
Candy
Dr
I
CS
O
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a5
10
9
active
46
2005 IP/864/0505
H-0073 University of Plymouth
Geography
Roberts
Prof
CN CS
O S
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a4l
50
8
active
47
2005 IP/865/0505
H-0121 Keele University
School ES&G
Gertisser
Dr
R
CS
O
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a4m
15 15
active
48
2005 IP/877/1105
H-0110 University of Birmingham
GEES
Baker
Dr
A
CS
O S
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a4m
active
49
2005 IP/878/1105
H-0204 University of Manchester
Geography
Woodward
Dr
J
CS
O
Acad collaboration
ES GC
a4l
done
51
2005 small
H-0134 King's College London
Biochemistry
Pentecost
Dr
A
CS
O
OUUSF
ES GC
plt
H-0001 Open University
OUUSF
van Calsteren
Dr
P
INF O
OUUSF
6
7
30 10
4
43
6. Publication details
Papers published in 2003-4 (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.
Papers published in 2005
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, 16491655. (IP/654/0300) SBA
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. Calsteren, P. van, Thomas, L.E. (2006). Uranium-series dating applications in natural environmental
science. Earth Science Reviews, 75, 155-175.
Asrat, A., Baker, A., Mohammed, M.U., Leng, L.J., Calsteren, P. van, Smith, C. (2006, accepted). A highresolution multi-proxy stalagmite record from Mechara, Southeastern Ethiopia: Paleohydrological
implications for speleothem paleoclimate reconstruction. Journal of Quaternary Science. (IP/786/0902) GC
Hughes, P.D., Woodward, J.C., Gibbard, P.L., Macklin, M.G., Gilmour, M.A. and Smith, G.R. (2006, in
press), The Glacial History of the Pindus Mountains, Greece, Journal of Geology. (IP/754/0302) GC
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. (submitted). Early Holocene
climate in NW Europe - abrupt events, centennial variability, and solar influence. (IP/672/0900) GC
7. Targets & Milestones

instrument utilisation;
The OUUSF Agreement is for the utilisation of 25% of the laboratory capacity, equivalent to
approximately 165 samples per year and this target has been achieved. 122 samples were analysed for SCapproved projects, 4 samples were analysed in pilot projects to assess feasibility of a project before a full
proposal is submitted, 20 rock standards were analysed to assess the full analytical process, 87 analyses
were performed to assess the efficiency and blank levels of the chemical procedures and 103 solution
standards were analysed to assess the performance of the mass spectrometers. It is probably fair to attribute
25% or 43 performance analyses to the work under the Agreement.

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;
NERC S&F Swindon office advised that rather than a ‘customer satisfaction survey’ or testimonial letters
from users, we should ask two collaborators who would be considered as 5 scientists to write on our
behalf. These letters, and one from the NIGFSC chair were submitted to SRG
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 three times for one week for repairs resulting from the flood damage
in 2004. Other down-time due to maintenance has been scheduled within the normal program and did not
result in appreciable delay.

summary of internal R&D output;
PvC and LET have spend time developing protocols for U-series analysis on the Nu Instruments MC-ICPMS. The sensitivity of this instrument is higher the MAT262 but instrumental fractionation in the plasma
torch and the sample interface is an order of magnitude larger then in TIMS and fractionation drifts
perceptibly during an analytical session. We have developed protocols that involve the frequent analysis
of specifically prepared standards to allow correction of fractionation effects while still benefiting from the
higher sensitivity, albeit at the price of a reduced sample throughput. Given that analysis time on the MCICP-MS is a factor of 3-4 times shorter then TIMS analysis time, this isn’t too much of a problem for our
application. Analysis protocols for Radium in carbonates have been devised and tested. Protocols for
Protactinium in carbonates are available but protocols for extracting the 233Pa spike from 237Np are still
being considered while our radiation risk assessment is awaiting approval.
8. Finance
Details are included in the account filed by the The Open University Finance Division.
Capital Funding for a proportion of a mass spectrometer will be sought in 2006, if OUUSF is renewed by
SRG, see: 4 Future Developments
9. 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. Jason Harvey is Part-Time (50%) Grade E Technician, OUUSF-funded
through the NERC-OU Agreement. Jason has defended his thesis recently and will be awarded a PhD on
the successful implementation of minor corrections.
All OUUSF staff are employed by The Open University on standard Terms and Conditions, OUUSFfunded staff are employed for the duration of the Agreement, until 31 March 2007.