Student practical training / Master theses

The trace element content of natural rutile bears very valuable mineralogical and petrogenetical information. In particular the 'Zr in rutile' and 'Si in rutile' geothermometer are very well studied. Equally important are the different partition coefficients for the 'geochemical twins” Nb – Ta, Zr – Hf, and U – Th. Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry is a very sensitive, but matrix dependent microanalytical method. For this reason the usage matrix-matched reference materials is essential. The suitability of several synthetic rutile crystals as a SIMS reference material has to be examined by systematic SIMS measurements.

Diploma or Master's thesis for students of earth science (mineralogy or geochemistry), analytical chemistry or materials sciences:

you are interested in mineralogical / crystal chemical problems
you are interested in modern analytical techniques
initiative and good teamwork skills