Analytical methods for non-traditional isotopes

Francis Albarède (1) , Brian Beard (2)

1 LST - Laboratoire de Sciences de la Terre
2 University of Wisconsin-Madison

This chapter is devoted to the analytical methods employed for making high precision isotope ratio measurements that preserve naturally occurring mass-dependent isotopic variations. The biggest challenge in making these types of measurements is deconvolving mass-dependent isotopic fractionation produced in the laboratory and mass spectrometer, from naturally occurring mass-dependent isotopic fractionation, because the patterns of isotope variation produced by these processes are identical. Therefore, the main theme of this chapter is the description and mathematical treatment of mass-dependent isotopic variations and the possible pitfalls in deconvolving instrumental mass bias from naturally occurring mass-dependent isotopic variations.

Domaines: Géochimie

Francis Albarède, Brian Beard. Analytical methods for non-traditional isotopes. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 2004, 55 (1), pp.113-152. ⟨10.2138/gsrmg.55.1.113⟩. ⟨hal-00102043⟩