The Chronos radiocarbon facility is UNSW’s radiocarbon dating laboratory affiliated with the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences and located in the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre.

Our mini carbon dating system (MICADAS) is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Our equipment allows us to undertake sample preparation, graphitisation and the measurement of 14C by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) on site. 

Capable of dating back 50,000 years, the facility makes thousands of radiocarbon measurements a year. We have worked with teams around the world, dating ancient wood, lake sediments, coral and shells.

The facility provides a way for the School’s staff to understand past climate, environments and archaeology. We are available for collaboration and to provide supervision for undergraduate, Honours and PhD students.  

Contact us

If you’d like to learn more about the Chronos radiocarbon facility, email Tim Barrows: t.barrows@unsw.edu.au