History

The current Geological Techniques Unit began its activity in 1990 as a Plasma Spectroscopy Service with the support of the Faculty of Geological Sciences of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) after the acquisition of an Emission Spectrometer with a Plasma source of Inductive Coupling and formed by a single laboratory. Subsequently, its equipment was completed and it was renamed the Atomic Spectrometry Center and was integrated into the network of CAIs -Research Assistance Centers- of the UCM, being the first CAI to certify its Quality Management System. In 2002 it was accredited in 42 water analysis parameters according to ISO 17025 and began to be part of the Laboratory Network of the Community of Madrid. In 2007 it was renamed CAI for Geological Techniques and included two laboratories under the same direction. Ten years later, a new structure was created for these centers, grouping together CAIs from the same scientific area, becoming reclassified as a Geological Techniques Unit that, together with the Geochronology and Archaeometry Units, make up the current Earth Sciences and Archeometry CAI.