US ITASE Glaciochemistry
The UMaine Continuous ice core Melter (UMCoM) system is a modified Wagenbach-style continuous melter system (Rothlisberger et al., 2000) with three important differences. First, we have constructed the melthead as two separate pieces, a base and a melter plate, so that it can be easily dismantled an...
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DigitalCommons@UMaine
2005
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| Online Access: | https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/orsp_reports/171 https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1179&context=orsp_reports |
| Summary: | The UMaine Continuous ice core Melter (UMCoM) system is a modified Wagenbach-style continuous melter system (Rothlisberger et al., 2000) with three important differences. First, we have constructed the melthead as two separate pieces, a base and a melter plate, so that it can be easily dismantled and cleaned between melting sessions. Second, the melter plate in contact with the ice is composed of pure nickel (>99.9% Ni) so that trace element measurements can be made from the meltwater stream. Third, in contrast to ice core melter systems in which the meltwater is directly channeled to online instruments for continuous flow analyses (e.g. Sigg et al., 1991; Rothlisberger et al., 2000; Huber et al., 2001; McConnell et al., 2002; Knusel et al., 2003), the UMCoM system collects discrete, high-resolution (<1-2 cm/sample), co-registered samples for each chemical analysis under ultraclean conditions using three or more (if needed) Gilson® fraction collectors (a fraction collector is a device that automatically apportions a liquid flow into discrete samples based on volume). This third modification provides exceptional flexibility in tailoring specific chemical analyses to each project. Currently, the UMCoM system is producing samples from the 2001 Mt. Logan summit ice core for analysis of 30 trace elements (Ca, Al, Fe, S, Sr, Cs, Bi, U, Tl, As, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), 8 major ions (Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, Cl-, SO4 2-, NO3 -, MSA) by ion chromatography (IC), stable water isotopes (δ18O, δD, d) by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), and volcanic tephra. The list of analytes can be adjusted to address the specific needs of each project. |
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