Chemical fingerprinting. What is it? It is based on the recognition that many natural processes leave unique chemical traces – fingerprints – in rocks, plants, industrial products, artifacts, anything really. Chemical fingerprinting is the science that discovers these patterns and links them to the original process. Therefore there is no limit to its application.

In the geosciences alone, it has already been used to solve many puzzles. Our laboratory participates in a world wide effort to discover more accurate ways of linking processes to their products. Precision and accuracy of trace element analysis keep improving and with them the scope for chemical fingerprinting grows. Many of the most powerful element groups for fingerprinting of geological materials show only subtle variations in concentration (see below). Therefore, high quality data are required.

Discovering and learning about chemical clues is the drive behind our research. The sub-pages that follow here give a taste of this type of work. Students interested in conducting postgraduate research with us are encouraged to contact us by email.

Modern Surface Environment

Ancient Surface Environment

Precambrian Magmatic Rocks