Routine Analyses

The Potsdam SIMS lab has develop roughly a half-dozen routine isotopic applications that function in an automated "point-and-analyze" mode.  As further methods become established and the required reference materials are developed the new analytical capabilities will be listed here.  Analytical parameters are approximate and are meant only as a general guide.

Boron Isotope Analyses >> Tourmaline, Glass
Beam Diameter: between 5 µm (for high B contents) and 15 µm at µg/g boron levels
Analysis Time: 4 minutes (tourmaline) up to 20 minutes at low concentrations
Analytical Uncertainty: < 1 per mil

Carbon Isotopes Analyses >> Diamond, Moissanite, Calcite
Beam Diameter: 8 µm
Analysis Time: 3 minutes
Repeatability: 0.3 per mil

Nitrongen Isotope Analyses >> Diamond
Beam Diameter: 10 µm to which a 10 µm raster is applied
Analysis time: 20 minutes
Repeatability: 0.3 to 1.5 per mil, depending on nitrogen concentration

Oxygen Isotope Analyses >> Zircon, Quartz, Calcite
Beam Diameter: 8 µm to which a 10 µm raster is applied
Analysis Time: 4 minutes
Repeatability: < 0.1 per mil

Sulfur Isotope Analyses >> Pyrite
Beam Diameter: 8 µm to which a 10 µm raster is applied
Analysis Time: 4 minutes
Repeatability: 0.2 per mil

U-Pb Geochronology >> Zircon
Beam Diamter: between 10 and 25 µm
Analysis Time: 15 minutes
U-Pb Calibration: Typically better than ± 1.5%