We have discovered a new way of measuring the three-dimensional distribution of radioactive elements in individual crystals by shining a very bright light on apatite crystals at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. This allows us to learn about the rates and timing of geologic processes, and to help resolve problems that previously were unsolvable because we had no way to make this type of measurement.

We show results from a new type of ion detector technology for mass spectrometry that allows us to measure ion beams more precisely. This technology expands the range of ages we can measure using a single instrument and makes it possible to measure those ages – including all required corrections and adjustments – with more confidence. We show measurements of widely used standard materials for Ar / Ar, including air and synthetic standard gas, to illustrate the capabilities of the new detectors.