High Temperature Isotope Geochemistry LaboratoryAntonio Simonetti

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research group (current and past members are listed in personnel web page) and I are currently investigating the following research topics:

- Developing innovative microanalytical techniques and/or novel methods for the identification of forensic signatures within post-detonation materials and natural nuclear materials for the purpose of accurate and rapid source attribution;

- Characterizing the chemical and isotopic nature of Earth's upper mantle through the investigation of alkaline complexes (carbonatites, alkali silica-undersaturated rocks) worldwide;

- Geochronological investigations of igneous rocks and biogenic materials.

Please check out recent paper by Corbett et al. (2020, Chemical Geology) that reports on shallow (low volume) sampling for in situ U-Pb dating of zircon using a multi-shot LA-ICP-MS approach with a Nu Instruments Attom HR-ICP-MS. Click on image below to view video demonstration that highlights this novel methodology.

My research focuses on the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation housed within the NSF-funded MITERAC ICP-MS Facility, which includes: Two HR-ICP-MS instruments (Attom and Element2), one MC-ICP-MS (NuPlasmaII), and two laser ablation systems (ESI-NWR 193 Excimer and UP213 Nd:YAG). Our sample preparation areas feature two class-1000 clean room laboratories. Graduate students and faculty also have access to a multitude of other instrumentation here at Notre Dame, such as an ORBIS micro-XRF, Electron Microprobe, and Delta V Plus mass spectrometer for stable isotope analyses.

On Saturday, April 15th, 2023, I completed my first half marathon race (Holy Half) here at the University of Notre Dame. Finished in 1 hour 53 minutes and placed 280th (out of 1,124 total participants), and 2nd in my age group (50-59; 30 runners)! It was great fun being cheered on by ND students and family members, and truly had a memorable and enjoyable experience!! Definitely doing it again.....


Photo taken on the Big Island of Hawaii in March 2017 during the undergraduate Spring Break field trip. Location is the southeastern coast of the Big Island, and steam is rising from the sea as the result of lava flowing into the Pacific Ocean (sliver of red, flowing lava can be seen midway along right cliff face). Fresh, pahoehoe basalts can be seen in the forefront.

Hiking towards 'Green Sand Beach' on the Big Island of Hawaii. Photo taken in March 2017.

 
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Photo taken on field trip to Miaoya carbonatite complex, China in October 2015. Hosts during the field trip included Dr. Wei Chen, one of my former PhD students, who is now faculty at the Department of Geosciences, China University in Wuhan.

Photo of active crater at Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii in March 2017. An active 20-foot high lava fountain can be seen within crater, along with volcanic gas emissions.