Ar-Ar dating laboratory
Scheme of argon extraction line

The sample, some tenth milligramms of a mineral separate or a rock chips, is heated in furnace, then cleaned in the first getter of [purifier 1]. These getters are made of a Zr-Ti-V alloy used to trap reactive gases. Noble gases such as argon and helium are not trapped. After a while, gas is transfered into the 'cube' where an active coal trap is present. This last one is freezed with liquid nitrogen at ca. -200°C [1]. When transfer is complete, the 'cube' is isolated and we heat the active coal trap to release the gas. This gas is then cleaned in the second getter [purifier 2], [2]. Finally the gas is sent to spectrometer [3] who will determine the quantity of each argon isotope masses (from 36 to 40). More informations in specific pages from various line parts, available by clicking on different parts of the line (see also menu).