Articles | Volume 3, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-421-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-3-421-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Technical Note: Noble gas extraction procedure and performance of the Cologne Helix MC Plus multi-collector noble gas mass spectrometer for cosmogenic neon isotope analysis
Benedikt Ritter
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 49b, Köln 50674, Germany
Andreas Vogt
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 49b, Köln 50674, Germany
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Straße 49b, Köln 50674, Germany
Related authors
Volker Wennrich, Julia Diederich-Leicher, Bárbara Nataly Blanco-Arrué, Christoph Büttner, Stefan Buske, Eduardo Campos Sepulveda, Tibor Dunai, Jacob Feller, Emma Galego, Ascelina Hasberg, Niklas Leicher, Damián Alejandro López, Jorge Maldonado, Alicia Medialdea, Lukas Ninnemann, Russell Perryman, Juan Cristóbal Ríos-Contesse, Benedikt Ritter, Stephanie Scheidt, Barbara Vargas-Machuca, Pritam Yogeshwar, and Martin Melles
Sci. Dril., 34, 1–20, https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-34-1-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-34-1-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We present the results of comprehensive pre-site surveys and deep drillings in two clay pans in the central Atacama Desert of northern Chile, one of the driest deserts on Earth. The results of the site surveys as well as lithological and downhole-logging data of the deep-drilling operations highlight the potential of the sediment records from the PAG (Playa Adamito Grande) and Paranal clay pans to provide unprecedented information on the Neogene precipitation history of the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert.
Aline Zinelabedin, Joel Mohren, Maria Wierzbicka-Wieczorek, Tibor Janos Dunai, Stefan Heinze, and Benedikt Ritter
Earth Surf. Dynam., 13, 257–276, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-257-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-257-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In order to interpret the formation processes of subsurface salt wedges and polygonal patterned grounds from the northern Atacama Desert, we present a multi-methodological approach. Due to the high salt content of the wedges, we suggest that their formation is dominated by subsurface salt dynamics requiring moisture. We assume that the climatic conditions during the wedge growth were slightly wetter than today, offering the potential to use the wedges as palaeoclimate archives.
Benedikt Ritter, Richard Albert, Aleksandr Rakipov, Frederik M. Van der Wateren, Tibor J. Dunai, and Axel Gerdes
Geochronology, 5, 433–450, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-5-433-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-5-433-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Chronological information on the evolution of the Namib Desert is scarce. We used U–Pb dating of silcretes formed by pressure solution during calcrete formation to track paleoclimate variability since the Late Miocene. Calcrete formation took place during the Pliocene with an abrupt cessation at 2.9 Ma. The end took place due to deep canyon incision which we dated using TCN exposure dating. With our data we correct and contribute to the Neogene history of the Namib Desert and its evolution.
Juan Ríos-Contesse, Richard Albert, Benedikt Ritter-Prinz, Axel Gerdes, Tibor Dunai, and Eduardo Campos
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4801, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4801, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geochronology (GChron).
Short summary
Short summary
This study dated chrysocolla, a supergene copper mineral, from copper deposits hosted in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile, with ages between 8.4 and 0.046 million years. Results show that from the Late Miocene to the Pleistocene, short periods of moisture triggered mineral formation despite the hyperarid climate. These wetter periods were likely caused by occasional rainfall or stronger coastal fog, causing repeated pulses of supergene activity in the Coastal Cordillera.
Volker Wennrich, Julia Diederich-Leicher, Bárbara Nataly Blanco-Arrué, Christoph Büttner, Stefan Buske, Eduardo Campos Sepulveda, Tibor Dunai, Jacob Feller, Emma Galego, Ascelina Hasberg, Niklas Leicher, Damián Alejandro López, Jorge Maldonado, Alicia Medialdea, Lukas Ninnemann, Russell Perryman, Juan Cristóbal Ríos-Contesse, Benedikt Ritter, Stephanie Scheidt, Barbara Vargas-Machuca, Pritam Yogeshwar, and Martin Melles
Sci. Dril., 34, 1–20, https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-34-1-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/sd-34-1-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We present the results of comprehensive pre-site surveys and deep drillings in two clay pans in the central Atacama Desert of northern Chile, one of the driest deserts on Earth. The results of the site surveys as well as lithological and downhole-logging data of the deep-drilling operations highlight the potential of the sediment records from the PAG (Playa Adamito Grande) and Paranal clay pans to provide unprecedented information on the Neogene precipitation history of the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert.
Aline Zinelabedin, Joel Mohren, Maria Wierzbicka-Wieczorek, Tibor Janos Dunai, Stefan Heinze, and Benedikt Ritter
Earth Surf. Dynam., 13, 257–276, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-257-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-257-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In order to interpret the formation processes of subsurface salt wedges and polygonal patterned grounds from the northern Atacama Desert, we present a multi-methodological approach. Due to the high salt content of the wedges, we suggest that their formation is dominated by subsurface salt dynamics requiring moisture. We assume that the climatic conditions during the wedge growth were slightly wetter than today, offering the potential to use the wedges as palaeoclimate archives.
Joel Mohren, Hendrik Wiesel, Wulf Amelung, L. Keith Fifield, Alexandra Sandhage-Hofmann, Erik Strub, Steven A. Binnie, Stefan Heinze, Elmarie Kotze, Chris Du Preez, Stephen G. Tims, and Tibor J. Dunai
Biogeosciences, 22, 1077–1094, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1077-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1077-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We measured concentrations of nuclear fallout in soil samples taken from arable land in South Africa. We find that during the second half of the 20th century, the data strongly correlate with the organic matter content of the soils. The finding implies that wind erosion strongly influenced the loss of organic matter in the soils we investigated. Furthermore, the exponential decline of fallout concentrations and organic matter content over time peaks shortly after native grassland is ploughed.
Benedikt Ritter, Richard Albert, Aleksandr Rakipov, Frederik M. Van der Wateren, Tibor J. Dunai, and Axel Gerdes
Geochronology, 5, 433–450, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-5-433-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-5-433-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Chronological information on the evolution of the Namib Desert is scarce. We used U–Pb dating of silcretes formed by pressure solution during calcrete formation to track paleoclimate variability since the Late Miocene. Calcrete formation took place during the Pliocene with an abrupt cessation at 2.9 Ma. The end took place due to deep canyon incision which we dated using TCN exposure dating. With our data we correct and contribute to the Neogene history of the Namib Desert and its evolution.
Tibor János Dunai, Steven Andrew Binnie, and Axel Gerdes
Geochronology, 4, 65–85, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-4-65-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-4-65-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We develop in situ-produced terrestrial cosmogenic krypton as a new tool to date and quantify Earth surface processes, the motivation being the availability of six stable isotopes and one radioactive isotope (81Kr, half-life 229 kyr) and of an extremely weathering-resistant target mineral (zircon). We provide proof of principle that terrestrial Krit can be quantified and used to unravel Earth surface processes.
Joel Mohren, Steven A. Binnie, Gregor M. Rink, Katharina Knödgen, Carlos Miranda, Nora Tilly, and Tibor J. Dunai
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 995–1020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-995-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-995-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we comprehensively test a method to derive soil densities under fieldwork conditions. The method is mainly based on images taken from consumer-grade cameras. The obtained soil/sediment densities reflect
truevalues by generally > 95 %, even if a smartphone is used for imaging. All computing steps can be conducted using freeware programs. Soil density is an important variable in the analysis of terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides, for example to infer long-term soil production rates.
Cited articles
Binnie, S., Reicherter, K., Victor, P., González, G., Binnie, A.,
Niemann, K., Stuart, F., Lenting, C., Heinze, S., Freeman, S., and Dunai, T.
J.: The origins and implications of paleochannels in hyperarid, tectonically
active regions: The northern Atacama Desert, Chile, Global Planet.
Change, 185, 103083, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.103083, 2020.
Dunai, T. J.: Cosmogenic Nuclides: Principles, concepts and applications in
the Earth surface sciences, Cambridge University Press,
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511804519, 2010.
Dunai, T. J., Lopez, G. A. G., and Juez-Larre, J.: Oligocene-Miocene age of
aridity in the Atacama Desert revealed by exposure dating of
erosion-sensitive landforms, Geology, 33, 321–324, https://doi.org/10.1130/g21184.1,
2005.
Eberhardt, P., Eugster, O., and Marti, K.: A redetermination of the isotopic
composition of atmospheric neon, Z. Naturforsch., 20a,
623–624, https://doi.org/10.1515/zna-1965-0420, 1965.
Espanon, V. R., Honda, M., and Chivas, A. R.: Cosmogenic 3He and 21Ne surface exposure dating of young basalts from Southern Mendoza, Argentina, Quat. Geochronol., 19, 76–86, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2013.09.002,
2014.
Farley, K., Treffkorn, J., and Hamilton, D.: Isobar-free neon isotope
measurements of flux-fused potential reference minerals on a
Helix-MC-Plus10K mass spectrometer, Chem. Geol., 537, 119487,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119487, 2020.
Gillen, D., Honda, M., Chivas, A. R., Yatsevich, I., Patterson, D. B., and
Carr, P. F.: Cosmogenic 21Ne exposure dating of young basaltic lava flows from the Newer Volcanic Province, western Victoria, Australia, Quat. Geochronol., 5, 1–9, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2009.08.004, 2010.
Györe, D., Tait, A., Hamilton, D., and Stuart, F. M.: The formation of
NeH+ in static vacuum mass spectrometers and re-determination of 21Ne 20Ne of air, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 263, 1–12,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2019.07.059, 2019.
Honda, M., Zhang, X., Phillips, D., Hamilton, D., Deerberg, M., and
Schwieters, J. B.: Redetermination of the 21Ne relative abundance of the
atmosphere, using a high resolution, multi-collector noble gas mass
spectrometer (HELIX-MC Plus), Int. J. Mass Spectrom.,
387, 1–7, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2015.05.012, 2015.
Kohl, C. and Nishiizumi, K.: Chemical isolation of quartz for measurement of
in-situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 56,
3583–3587, https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(92)90401-4, 1992.
Ma, Y., Wu, Y., Li, D., and Zheng, D.: Analytical procedure of neon
measurements on GV 5400 noble gas mass spectrometer and its evaluation by
quartz standard CREU-1, Int. J. Mass Spectrom., 380,
26–33, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2015.03.004, 2015.
Ma, Y., Wu, Y., Li, D., Zheng, D., Zheng, W., Zhang, H., Pang, J., and Wang,
Y.: Erosion rate in the Shapotou area, northwestern China, constrained by in
situ-produced cosmogenic 21Ne in long-exposed erosional surfaces, Quat. Geochronol., 31, 3–11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2015.10.001, 2016.
McIntyre, G., Brooks, C., Compston, W., and Turek, A.: The statistical
assessment of Rb-Sr isochrons, J. Geophys. Res., 71,
5459–5468, https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ071i022p05459, 1966.
McPhillips, D., Hoke, G. D., Liu-Zeng, J., Bierman, P. R., Rood, D. H., and
Niedermann, S.: Dating the incision of the Yangtze River gorge at the First
Bend using three-nuclide burial ages, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43,
101–110, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066780, 2016.
Niedermann, S.: Cosmic-ray-produced noble gases in terrestrial rocks: dating
tools for surface processes, Rev. Mineral. Geochem., 47,
731–784, 2002.
Niedermann, S., Graf, T., Kim, J., Kohl, C., Marti, K., and Nishiizumi, K.:
Cosmic-ray-produced 21 Ne in terrestrial quartz: the neon inventory of
Sierra Nevada quartz separates, Earth Planet. Sc. Lett., 125,
341–355, https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(94)90225-9, 1994.
Ritter, B., Stuart, F. M., Binnie, S. A., Gerdes, A., Wennrich, V., and
Dunai, T. J.: Neogene fluvial landscape evolution in the hyperarid core of
the Atacama Desert, Sci. Rep., 8, 13952,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32339-9, 2018.
Saxton, J.: The 21Ne 20Ne ratio of atmospheric neon, J. Anal. Atom. Spectrom., 35, 943–952, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0JA00031K 2020.
Vermeesch, P., Balco, G., Blard, P. H., Dunai, T. J., Kober, F., Niedermann,
S., Shuster, D. L., Strasky, S., Stuart, F. M., Wieler, R., and Zimmermann,
L.: Interlaboratory comparison of cosmogenic Ne-21 in quartz, Quat. Geochronol., 26, 20–28, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2012.11.009, 2015.
Wielandt, D. and Storey, M.: A new high precision determination of the
atmospheric 21Ne abundance, J. Anal. Atom. Spectrom., 34,
535–549, https://doi.org/10.1039/C8JA00336J, 2019.
Short summary
We describe the design and performance of a new noble gas mass laboratory dedicated to the development of and application to cosmogenic nuclides at the University of Cologne (Germany). At the core of the laboratory are a state-of-the-art high-mass-resolution multicollector Helix MCPlus (Thermo-Fisher) noble gas mass spectrometer and a novel custom-designed automated extraction line, including a laser-powered extraction furnace. Performance was tested with intercomparison (CREU-1) material.
We describe the design and performance of a new noble gas mass laboratory dedicated to the...