EARTH

K/Ar geochronology

We determines the eruption age of volcanic rocks by measuring the decay of unstable ⁴⁰K to stable ⁴⁰Ar within crystals, acting as a timer that starts upon cooling. It is effective for dating samples from 10,000 years to billions of years old, particularly for rapidly cooled lava flows, domes, and ash-flow tuffs.

Beyond volcanic dating, we specialize in illite geochronology determine the timing of diagenesis, hydrocarbon migration, and fault reactivation, often showing that illite-smectite transformation is driven by thermal and fluid events.

(U-Th)/He geochronology

(U-Th)/He geochronology, primarily using zircon and apatite, acts as a high-precision tool for dating young (Quaternary) to ancient volcanic eruptions by measuring helium retention upon cooling below ~20–200°C.

Noble gas geochemistry

Phenocryst noble gas geochemistry analyzes isotopes (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) trapped in mineral inclusions (olivine, pyroxene, amphibole) to trace mantle sources, magmatic evolution, and degassing history.

ABOUT US

The predecessor of our laboratory, the K/Ar laboratory, was founded by Kadosa Balogh and provided radiometric dating services for geology for nearly 40 years.

Since 2014, the laboratory’s profile has expanded to include the measurement of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) found in meteorites and the geochronological method of fracture trace analysis. Our ongoing developments include the establishment of a rock petrographic workstation, the establishment of a microthermometry laboratory, and the introduction of U-Th/He and 39Ar/40Ar radiometric dating methods.

We use our results mainly in collaboration with geologists, in volcanological, CH research, landfill design and raw material research applications, as well as in basic research.