Our understanding of the crustal evolution of the Napier Complex is blurred by a long and complex geologic history, including multiple stages of high-temperature metamorphism. What is known from other studies is that geological activity occurred over one billion years, including multiple generations of magmatism. These phenomena may represent crustal growth within tectonically separate domains that were only assembled later. Piotr Król’s research project, who was awarded a SYNTHESYS+ grant to visit the Swedish Museum of Natural History (NRM) in Stockholm, aims to provide a more comprehensive view not only of crustal evolution of this remote area but also of the nature of geological processes occurring in the early Earth.

SYNTHESYS+ recently funded Piotr’s visit to the NRM, where he gained analytical expertise and scientific knowledge while working with Prof. Martin J. Whitehouse. To respond to the scientific questions addressed in the project, Piotr separated and imaged zircon grains from the studied rocks in the NORDSIM ion microprobe laboratory. Then, he carried out U-Th-Pb isotopic analysis of single domains of zircon grains using NORDSIM facility — CAMECA IMS1280 secondary ion mass spectrometer. As a result, on the basis of the obtained isotopic data the age of the main geological events in the Napier Complex will be estimated.