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    Lab Equipment

    The lab supports isotopic research in volcanology, paleoclimate, paleoecology, paleoanthropology, and archaeology.

    We have two isotope ratio mass spectrometer systems:

    (1) Thermo-Finnigan MAT 253 large radius 10KV gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometer with a 12 Faraday cups covering masses from 2 to 131 dalton, H2 to SF5+, including two collector assemblies: one with two cups for H2 and HD, the other collector with 10 cups for all other gases. Gas configurations include H2, CO, N2, O2, CO2 (44-49 dalton) SO2, and SF6.

    MassSpec

    Thermo-Finnigan MAT 253

     

    Laser fluorination vacuum line with a New Wave Research 100 watt CO2 infrared laser for analyses of silicates, oxides, sulfates, and other compounds for oxygen isotopes. The fluorination line is operated in O2 mode when analyzing for all three isotopes of oxygen including 17O, and CO2 mode where O2 is converted to CO2 prior to analysis. Gas generated from 0.4-1.5 mg of material is analyzed in the mass spectrometer dual inlet mode.

    For recently built chromatography-based 17-O applications (not shown here), we pass gas through a series of cryogenic traps and a 6 ft 5A chromatographic column. See Zakharov et al. 2017, Geology, and Bindeman et al. 2018 Nature for details.

    FluorLine

    Laser fluorination line

     

    Continuous flow applications:
    – TC/EA (thermal conversion/elemental analyzer) pyrolysis system with a Costech zero-blank autosampler for hydrogen and oxygen isotope analyses of submicromolar quantities of water in submilligram quantities of hydrous minerals.
    – GasBench II system with an Agilent/CTC GC PAL autosampler for carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of carbonate minerals.

    GasBenchTCEA

    GasBench II – TC/EA

     

    (2) Nu Horizon 2 7.5 kV gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometer fitted with 5 collectors to cover masses from 1 to 100 and designed for high sensitivity in continuous flow applications using Variable Dispersion Zoom Optics. Gas configurations include: CO2, N2, SO2, H2, and CO.

    Nu Horizon 2, EuroVector Elemental Analyser, Nano-CF interface

    Laser ablation line with a New Wave Research CO2 infrared laser for in situ stable isotope analyses of carbonates and phosphates. The custom designed laser line is automated using the Nano-CF interface. Gas generated by laser ablation is concentrated in a cryogenic trap, passed through a heated GC column, and analyzed on the irms. This system allows for rapid, minimally invasive microanalysis of tooth enamel bioapatite and other carbonates and phosphates.

    Elemental analyzer combustion system for carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of organic materials, such as plant tissues, animal tissues (collagen, keratin, etc), and soil organic matter.

     

    Other lab equipment
    – A second high vacuum line for off-line preparation and purification of samples
    – BrF5 distillation apparatus
    – Vacuum oven
    – Microbalance with microgram precision
    – Nikon trinocular microscope and camera for mineral picking
    – Petrographic microscope
    – Reference materials and standard gases

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