Stable Isotope Lab

The lab space includes two rooms in Haenicke Hall, a mass spectrometer (Delta V Plus). The mass spec is equipped with several peripherals:

  1. Continuous flow peripherals (linked via Conflo IV):

    -Isolink-OH elemental analyzed (EA) used for δD and δ18O measurements in hydrous silicates via combustion at 1400°C and reduction of water to H2 and CO, respectively. Integration of the area under m/z 2 and 3 allows to estimate H2O wt. % of the analyte. USGS57 and 58 micas standards are used for D/H data reduction to VSMOW values.

    -Costech 4010 EA is typically used for CNS measurements. Currently in dormant state.

  2. Dual inlet measurements:

    -Laser-assisted fluorination of silicates to produce high-precision δ17O-δ18O measurements. The Fusion Teledyne 55W CO2 laser warms up a mineral grain up to the point of melting in presence of a fluorinating agent BrF5. The reaction of a silicate with BrF5 produces O2 gas and condensable byproducts (e.g., SiF4). The reaction proceeds under vacuum (~1E-03 mbar) in a stainless-steel vacuum line. A series of cryogenic traps are used to purify the resultant O2 gas.

State of the lab (Jan 2024; “almost there”):

Inside the mass spec:

Analyzer of our Delta V Plus. The flight tube and collector assembly housing are machined inside the metal block.

Transfer and distillation of our fluorinating agent

Chlorine in solid form — a common byproduct