Laboratories & Facilities
High quality analysis and capability to support your project.
We deliver a broad range of services in New Zealand and overseas for fundamental and applied research, and the development of innovative products.

Extraction and separation of organic compounds (lipid biomarkers) from environmental samples and analysis by gas and liquid chromatography.
Rock and Soil Mechanics Laboratory
The GNS Science Rock and Soil Mechanics Laboratory is a facility set up for the determination of the mechanical properties of rock and soil materials.
Cosmogenic Isotope and Radiochemistry Laboratory
Isotope analysis and dating of sedimentary deposits, glacial rocks, minerals and fluids using 10Be, 137Cs, 210Pb, 226Ra, and other U and Th series isotopes.
Ion Beam Analysis Research Laboratory
Advanced materials, nanotechnology and environmental pollution measurement.
XRD analysis, mineral and clay identification, thin section preparation and mineral separation.
Processing of ice cores and snow samples for analytical analyses. Working freezer at -18°C and capacity to hold over 2000m of ice core.
14C analysis using modern AMS technology - applications for geoscience, archaeology, antiquities, atmosphere, environment and others.
Fast, accurate stable isotope analysis for geothermal, geological, minerals, biological, environmental and geoforensic applications.
Tritium and Water Dating Laboratory
Ultra sensitive measurement of tritium for dating of groundwater. Other techniques include CFC, SF6 and 14C.
New Zealand Geothermal Analytical Laboratory
ISO17025:2017 accredited water and gas analyses for geothermal, groundwater and environmental applications. Sampling, analysis, interpretation and monitoring services available.
Fleming Centre: Paleontology Collections and Laboratories
The Fleming Centre at GNS Science houses the National Paleontological Collection, additional fossil collections from overseas, the macropaleontology and sedimentology laboratory; and the micropaleontology laboratory.
Palynology and Earth Science Laboratories
The Palynology and Earth Science multipurpose laboratories designed for a wide range of sample preparation and analysis within a secure, safe and contaminant-free environment for the study of pollen, spores, dinoflagellate cysts and other microscopic organic material.
Our honey testing facility offers honey source verification using pollen analysis, honey C4 sugar adulteration detection using isotope analysis, and a range of other tests.