COLDEX Oldest Ice Sample Requests

In collaboration with the NSF Ice Core Facility, NSF COLDEX is managing sample requests for ice cores collected through center activities, as well as cores previously collected at the Allan Hills Blue Ice area, some of which include ice older than 800,000 years (hereafter “NSF COLDEX samples”). NSF COLDEX samples are available to NSF COLDEX participants and others in the US scientific community. NSF COLDEX participants and qualified US investigators can directly request NSF COLDEX samples; international researchers may obtain samples through collaboration with NSF COLDEX participants. Interested researchers are encouraged to contact Edward Brook or Christo Buizert to discuss collaborations and sample availability.

Sample requests will be reviewed by the NSF COLDEX sample allocation committee (SAC). If requests are granted, the SAC will communicate with the ICF staff to arrange sample cutting and shipping in coordination with the investigators. The SAC can also advise on sample availability and ages.

COLDEX Participants can request samples using the sample request form. Email the completed “Sample Request/Facility Use Form” to Christo Buizert and Jenna Epifanio.

Non-COLDEX US investigators can request NSF COLDEX samples through a procedure similar to that for regular ice core samples managed by the NSF-ICF. Using the COLDEX sample request form they can either (i) request a small number of NSF COLDEX samples for a pilot or other new studies, or (ii) request a letter of sample availability for inclusion with an NSF proposal submission. Email the completed “Sample Request/Facility Use Form” to Christo Buizert and Jenna Epifanio. NSF-funded researchers have access to the same samples that NSF COLDEX participants do.

International researchers from outside of the US interested in working on NSF COLDEX samples should contact Director Edward Brook. They may be required to have a NSF COLDEX or NSF-funded collaborator before they are given access to NSF COLDEX samples. Priority will be given to researchers with analytical capabilities unavailable in the US and/or NSF COLDEX.