Knowledge Base

Goal: The effects of addition of nitrogen gas with use of three different combinations of sample and skimmer cones on the performance of LA-MC-ICP-MS for in situ B isotope ratio measurements were investigated in detail.

Goal: This work presents a fully automated setup for using direct injection nebulization as an introduction system for solution measurements by MC-ICP-MS, here applied to boron isotopes in pure boric acid solutions and natural samples. In this setup, a direct injection nebulizer (d-DIHEN) is plugged into the plasma torch without any spray chamber, and an automated 6-port valve interfaces the nebulizer and the autosampler. The advantages of a d-DIHEN for boron isotope ratio measurements are high sensitivity and short washout times, allowing for sample–standard bracketing (SSB) measurements at a higher rate than spray chambers.

Goal: The isotopic composition and elemental abundance of boron (B) in marine carbonates provide a powerful tool for tracking changes in seawater pH and carbonate chemistry. Progress in this field has, however, been hampered by the volatile nature of B, its persistent memory, and other uncertainties associated with conventional chemical extraction and mass spectrometric measurements. Here we show that for marine carbonates, these limitations can be overcome by using a simplified, low-blank, chemical extraction technique combined with robust multi-collector inductively couple plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) methods.

Goal: The present review discusses different mass spectrometric techniques—viz, thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), and secondary ion mass spectrometry SIMS)—used to determine 11B/10B isotope ratio, and concentration of boron required for various applications in earth sciences, marine geochemistry, nuclear technology, environmental, and agriculture sciences, etc.

Goal: A new method has been developed for the accurate, precise and more rapid determination of boron isotopes (δ11B) by MC-ICP-MS applicable to seawater and pore water samples. Obvious matrix effects have been observed when applying pure standard solutions to bracket the untreated pore water samples and matrix-containing standards. The matrix effects were eliminated by applying matrix-matched standards to measure the matrix-matched ones.

Goal: A simple and accurate methodology for Br isotope ratio measurements in seawater by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) with pneumatic nebulization for sample introduction was developed.

Goal: This paper describs the measurement protocol for obtaining high precise and accurate chlorine isotope ratios using multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS)

Goal: Variations in the isotopic composition of Cu and Sb as determined using multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) have been investigated as a proxy for provenancing ancient glass. Cu and Sb were added during the manufacturing of ancient (pre-Roman and Roman) glass to obtain colour and opacity.

Goal: Based on promising results obtained in earlier work on antimony ores, we have investigated the use of natural variation in the isotopic composition of Sb as determined using multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) for provenancing Roman glasses. In antiquity, Sb was used either as a decolourizer or as an opacifier and thus, colourless and opaque coloured glasses from different regions and periods were selected for investigation.

Goal: In this study, Sr isotope ratios analysed in modern human scalp hair from a female vegetarian and non-smoker register marked isotopic change on a monthly timescale when an individual moves to locations with contrasting Sr isotope compositions. Pb isotope ratios do not show significant changes after moving locations, possibly due to comparable Pb isotope ratios in the two environments. In contrast, Pb isotopes ratios analysed in facial hair from a male omnivore and smoker record isotopic changes within a two week period when moving between locations with significant differences in environmental Pb isotope compositions.

Goal: The “laser ablation split stream” (LASS) technique is a powerful tool for mineral-scale isotope analyses and in particular, for concurrent determination of age and Hf isotope composition of zircon. Because LASS utilizes two independent mass spectrometers, a large range of masses can be measured during a single ablation, and thus, the same sample volume can be analyzed for multiple geochemical systems. This paper describes a simple analytical setup using a laser ablation system coupled to a single-collector (for U-Pb age determination) and a multicollector (for Hf isotope analyses) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS).

Goal: Results are presented for in situ simultaneous determination of U-Pb and Sm-Nd isotopes in monazite using the Laser Ablation Split-Stream (LASS) method. This method uses a laser ablation system coupled to a magnetic-sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (HR) (ICP-MS) for measuring U-Pb isotopes and a multicollector (MC) ICP-MS for measuring Sm-Nd isotopes. Ablated material is split using a Y-connector and transported simultaneously to both mass spectrometers. In addition to Sm and Nd isotopes, the MC-ICP-MS is configured to also acquire Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd elemental abundances.

Goal: This study presents a combined methodology of simultaneously measuring Rb–Sr/Sm–Nd or Sm–Nd/Lu–Hf isotopes in natural minerals by a means of two multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers (MC-ICP-MSs) connected to a 193 nm excimer laser ablation system. The ablated materials carried out of the HelEx cell by helium gas are split into two gas streams with different proportions into the Neptune for Sr (or Nd) analyses and Neptune Plus for Nd (or Hf) analyses.

Goal: On the basis of chromium (Cr) isotope data from a suite of Proterozoic sediments from China, Australia, and North America, interpreted in the context of data from similar depositional environments from Phanerozoic time, we find evidence for inhibited oxidation of Cr at Earth’s surface in the mid-Proterozoic (1.8 to 0.8 billion years ago). These data suggest that atmospheric O2 levels were at most 0.1% of present atmospheric levels. Direct evidence for such low O2 concentrations in the Proterozoic helps explain the late emergence and diversification of metazoans.