Entries by isobar

Reconstructing Lead Pollution & Exposure through History

Lead is a naturally occurring element found within the earth’s crust as well as in bodies of water, soil and overlaying plants. The rise and fall of lead use through space and time makes the reconstruction of lead isotopes very interesting for research into past civilizations and present environmental studies.

Isoscapes in Food Science

In the food industry, certain products and ingredients are more highly valued when they originate from specific regions of the world. Given the importance of designating an origin to products, geochemical fingerprinting can be used to identify product origin.

U-Th Dating in Archaeology

Uranium-Thorium (U-Th) dating is a radioactive method to date a variety of carbonate samples, including corals, cave deposits, cave artwork, shells, foraminifera and bone.

Isoscapes: connecting samples to place

Maps demonstrating variability in specific isotopes across a landscape have been produced in varying spatial resolutions (local, regional, global) – known as isoscapes.

Isotopes in Petroleum Exploration (Pb-Sr) and Verification (14C)

In petroleum exploration, it is vital to be able to interpret and date key occurrences within petroleum systems – including petroleum generation and alteration (post-generation). For example, identifying and dating the occurrence of certain authigenic minerals (e.g. carbonate cements) can provide information on when and where oil is likely to accumulate to aid in targeting exploration.