MIFAS: Metal Isotope Facility with ATONA System

This project secured advanced analytical technology for novel minerals exploration research by procuring a Metal Isotope Facility with an ATONA System (MIFAS) analytical facility, enhancing capabilities for metal isotope geochemistry and geochronology.

Overview

Led by Associate Professor Juraj Farkas from The University of Adelaide, this one-year project established the MIFAS facility, featuring a multi-collector TIMS IsotopX mass spectrometer equipped with the innovative ATONA™ system. The facility enabled the analysis of small-size samples at nanogram to sub-nanogram levels and provided an extreme dynamic range for isotope signal intensities.

“MIFAS offers the highest sensitivity and ultimate precision for a solution-based metal isotope analysis currently available”
- Associate Professor Juraj Farkas

The Challenge

Traditional analytical techniques for minerals exploration research may lack the sensitivity and precision required to analyse small-size samples at nanogram to sub-nanogram levels, hindering the discovery of novel mineral resources.

The MIFAS facility, equipped with advanced ATONA technology, resolves this by offering high-precision, time-efficient analyses of stable and radiogenic metal isotopes, which has numerous applications in geology, mineral exploration, and environmental studies.

Outcomes

  • Manufacturing of the ATONA System

  • Establishment of the Metal Isotope Facility with ATONA System (MIFAS)

  • Test and Generation of pilot data using the new facility

What Are The Benefits?

  • Upgraded Analytical Capabilities: The MIFAS facility has enhanced metal isotope geochemistry and geochronology, allowing high-precision analyses of small samples and significantly reducing analytical time.

  • Improved Environmental Impact: The facility is helping address environmental issues related to metal contamination in water, aligning with UN SDG Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and Goal 13 (Climate Change).

  • Enhanced National and Academic Research: It has provided a unique national infrastructure for novel isotope research, benefiting academia, industry, and government projects.

  • Boosted Training and Innovation: The facility will serve as a demonstration lab for the new ATONA technology, offering researchers training and remote access to high-end instrumentation.

Who will benefit

Improved analytical capabilities will benefit researchers, mineral exploration companies, and the mining industry, enhancing their understanding and discovery of novel mineral resources.

Access

Data, Tool, and Software Access: Please contact Associate Professor Juraj Farkas to access the MIFAS infrastructure (TIMS/ATONA instrument) for isotope analysis and subsequent datasets.

Acknowledging AuScope

This project was made possible by support from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) through AuScope. Acknowledging AuScope and NCRIS helps us demonstrate the value of shared research infrastructure, ensuring continued support and resources for the research community.

If you helped deliver this project or have benefited from its outputs, please credit AuScope so we can include your work in our impact reporting. For examples of acknowledgment, please visit our ‘How to Acknowledge AuScope’ page.

We’d love to see your work—please tag us on social media using:

@auscope | #AuScopeImpact | #NCRISimpact

 
 

Project Name
MIFAS: Metal Isotope Facility with ATONA System

Project Lead

Timeframe
2021 to 2023

Status
Complete

Funding
AuScope Pilots 2

Host
The University of South Australia

NCRIS Collaborators
TERN

Other Collaborators
University of Adelaide (UoA)

Geoscience Australia

IsotopX

MinEx CRC

ECEAuScopePilot 2, UniSA, MIFAS, ATONA, critical minerals, Strategic, Complete