DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

Radiogenic Isotope Laboratory (Jacobson)

The Radiogenic Isotope Laboratory consists of a state-of-the-art “metal free” clean room and a Thermo Scientific Triton multi-collector thermal ionization mass spectrometer (MC-TIMS) funded by the Major Research Instrumentation program at the National Science Foundation. The laboratory emphasizes the isotopic analysis of Ca and Sr (both stable and radiogenic) to support research in aqueous geochemistry, ground and surface water hydrology, chemical oceanography, paleoceanography, geomicrobiology, chemostratigraphy, and climate change, both modern and ancient. Complementary research involves analysis of B, Nd, and Pb isotopes.

PicoTrace designed and built the Radiogenic Isotope Laboratory. The main chemistry laboratory and instrument room meet or exceed class 1000 conditions. All work areas, including hoods and counter tops, meet or exceed class 10 conditions. The main chemistry laboratory contains seven exhausting horizontal laminar flow workstations for chromatographic separations, sample evaporations, rock digestions, and other procedures. Additional equipment includes corrosion-free hotplates with time-temperature controllers, a pressure digestion system, sub-boiling stills for acid purification, microscopes, high-precision analytical balances, and a Millipore Milli-Q Element water purifier coupled to an Elix20 RO-EDI pre-treatment system.