A facility for Sensitive and Precise Isotopic Dating of Earth's and extraterrestrial Rocks

We propose to establish a facility for very precise isotopic analysis for geological time measurement and isotopic tracing, based on thermal ionisation mass spectrometry and incorporating the most promising, but thus far little explored, analytical advancements: ion beam production using thermal cavity source and detection using charge collection. This unique instrument (SPIDE2R) coupling a commercially produced mass spectrometer with components built in Australia will increase the sensitivity and precision of isotopic analysis to an unprecedented level, driving frontier research in the Earth, planetary, climate and nuclear sciences and enhancing Australian scientific prestige.