Dear Colleagues We are convening the following technical session at the Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference this coming July (12-17) 2026 in Montreal, Canada: Session 06a - In-situ analytical methodologies and reference materials supporting cutting-edge isotopic and/or elemental measurements for geoscience applications https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2026/goldschmidt/2026/meetingapp.cgi Please consider submitting an abstract and joining us! Abstract deadline: Thursday, February 26 at 11:59 EST USA (23:59 UTC-5) Submit an abstract here: https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2026/cfp.cgi Keynote Speaker: Thomas Zack (The University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Conveners: Kate Souders (United States Geological Survey, Denver) Paul Sylvester (Texas Tech University) Session description: This session is dedicated to microbeam instrumentation and new methods (e.g. electron probe microanalysis, secondary ion mass spectrometry, laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, etc.), and reference materials used for the development, calibration, and interpretation of stable/radiogenic isotopic and/or elemental measurements in geochronology, thermochronology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, detrital mineral provenance, critical mineral systems, geobiology, and/or big data science. The emphasis is on the presentation and discussion of the analytical protocols, both procedural and instrumental, used to make challenging measurements for characterization of minerals in the solid state, such as LA-TOF-ICP-MS elemental and isotopic mapping of geo-and-biological materials, or LA-(MC)-ICP-MS/MS analyses for geochronology of beta-decay isotope systems or avoiding and/or eliminating isobaric interferences. Reference materials may include natural or synthetic minerals, glasses, or pressed powder solids. Presentations that introduce and characterize new reference materials or provide new or revised reference values and homogeneity data for reference materials already in use are both welcome. Discussion of instrumental parameters for measurements, method validation, and quantification of accuracy and precision using reference materials, and determination of the uncertainty budget of methods are relevant. We particularly solicit contributions that demonstrate the state of the art in detection limits, precision, and/or small, micro- to nano-scale analytical volumes or present a roadmap to advance to the next level of material characterization. The interdisciplinary nature of this session is meant to stimulate cross-pollination of methodologies and application spaces. Hope to see you in Montreal! Paul Sylvester Professor and Endowed Pevehouse Chair Department of Geosciences Experimental Sciences Building-I, 1008 Canton Ave. Room 157 – MILL Laboratory Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409 USA E-mail: paul.sylvester@ttu.edu phone: 806-834-5091 mobile: 806-451-6865