Laboratory of Radiogenic Isotopes

Mgr. Vojtìch Erban
Head of the Laboratory

Radiogenic isotopes lab

The mission of the Radiogenic Isotopes Laboratory ('Laborator radiogenních izotopu', in short LARIZ) is a research focussed on distribution of Sr and Nd isotopes, as well as applications of Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd methods of dating. It is equipped by a solid-source mass spectrometer (TIMS) Finnigan MAT 262.

Activities

Even though LARIZ is primarily intended for solving projects of the Czech Geological Survey, its uniqueness within the country destines it to cooperation with other institutions both inland and abroad. If required, we not only commission the radiogenic isotope data, but we also take part in their interpretation.

We determine the Sr and Nd isotopic compositions in a range of materials: silicate rocks, carbonates, barites, rainwater, bones and teeth etc. The field of their application is wide, spanning from dating of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, to sensitive indicators number of the geological processes, such as:

• development of geological units in the Variscan belt of Europe
• sources of magmas, modelling and quantifying nature and processes in igneous petrogenesis
• protolith and age of high-grade metamorphic rocks
• provenience of sediments, constraining past sedimentary environments; Sr stratigraphy
• strontium cycle in model catchments
• prehistoric human migration

Price list* (effective from February 1, 2008)