Methodology: Lead Isotope Analysis

Pretreatment

Separation of lead isotopes from the matrix elements is conducted by means of extraction chromatography using Eichrom cation exchange resin following the methods of Pourmand and Dauphas (2010).

Sample types available for lead analysis: bone, igneous rock, marine sediments, lacustrine sediments, metal artifacts / coins, mineral dust, soil, tooth enamel and water. 

More information on Sample Types and Selection for lead analysis

Measurement of stable isotopes of lead

Device: Neptune Plus multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) with an Apex-Q desolvation nebulizer 

Lead Isotopes Results

Lead isotope ratio data are reported as ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb, and ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios. Uncertainties for each sample measurement is presented as the 95% confidence interval (CI). Presented graphically on a plot which includes representative ranges of the lead isotopic ratios of various materials.

Plot of  ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb versus ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb for the tested samples.

Reference

Pourmand, A. and Dauphas, N., (2010). Distribution coefficients of 60 elements on TODGA resin: application to Ca, Lu, Hf, U and Th isotope geochemistry. Talanta, 81(3), pp.741-753. DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2010.01.008