Lead Isotope Analysis – Sample Types and Selection

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from clay particles and other detritus. Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis
• Boron

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from soil, clay particles, calcite and other detritus.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis
• U-Th Dating

All bone samples (cremated, intact) must be homogenized and ashed prior to submittal. For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from soil, clay particles, calcite and other detritus. Ash samples in a quartz crucible at 850°C for 3 hours and transfer the residues into clean small glass or plastic vials. Samples will be digested in 8 M nitric acid (lower concentrations may be used if the sample contains clay and detritus). A larger sample size is required if we need to ash the samples.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from soil, clay particles, calcite and other detritus. Samples should be homogenized prior to submission.

Clean & free from soil, clay particles, calcite and other detritus. For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from clay particles and other detritus. Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis

Clean & free from soil, clay particles, calcite and other detritus. For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from clay particles and other detritus. Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis
• Boron
• U-Th Dating
• Strontium Chronology (if marine)

Ceramic samples need to be homogenized prior to submittal. For effective sample dissolution, high-temperature flux fusion is the method of choice. Homogenized samples will be fused at 1075°C with high-purity lithium metaborate (LiBO2, Puratronic) and ultra-pure grade lithium bromide to ensure complete recovery of the melt. The melt is directly digested in 6 M nitric acid.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from clay particles and other detritus. Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

Glass samples need to be homogenized prior to submittal. For effective sample dissolution, high-temperature flux fusion is the method of choice. Homogenized samples will be fused at 1075°C with high-purity lithium metaborate (LiBO2, Puratronic) and ultra-pure grade lithium bromide to ensure complete recovery of the melt. The melt is directly digested in 6 M nitric acid.

• None at this time

Rock samples need to be homogenized prior to submittal. For effective sample dissolution, high-temperature flux fusion is the method of choice. Homogenized samples will be fused at 1075°C with high-purity lithium metaborate (LiBO2, Puratronic) and ultra-pure grade lithium bromide to ensure complete recovery of the melt. The melt is directly digested in 6 M nitric acid.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from clay particles and other detritus. Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis
• Boron
• U-Th Dating

All organics must be removed from the sample either by ashing or with hydrogen peroxide. All carbonate fractions must be removed if you wish to measure Pb isotopes only on siliciclastic fraction. A larger sample size is required if we need to remove the carbonates and organics from the samples. For effective sample dissolution, high-temperature flux fusion is the method of choice. Sediment samples will be fused at 1075°C with high-purity lithium metaborate (LiBO2, Puratronic) and ultra-pure grade lithium bromide to ensure complete recovery of the melt. The melt is directly digested in 6 M nitric acid.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from soil, clay particles, calcite and other detritus. Samples will be digested in 8 M nitric acid (higher concentrations may be used if need be).

• None at this time

Aerosol samples collected on filter paper must be ashed entirely prior to submittal. All organics must be removed from the sample either by ashing or with hydrogen peroxide. All carbonate fractions must be removed if you wish to measure Pb isotopes only on siliciclastic fraction. A larger sample size is required if we need to remove the carbonates and organics or ash the samples. For effective sample dissolution, high-temperature flux fusion is the method of choice. Aerosol samples will be fused at 1075°C with high-purity lithium metaborate (LiBO2, Puratronic) and ultra-pure grade lithium bromide to ensure complete recovery of the melt. The melt is directly digested in 6 M nitric acid.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis

All organics must be removed from the sample either by ashing or with hydrogen peroxide. Soil samples need to be homogenized prior to submittal. For effective sample dissolution, high-temperature flux fusion is the method of choice. Homogenized samples will be fused at 1075°C with high-purity lithium metaborate (LiBO2, Puratronic) and ultra-pure grade lithium bromide to ensure complete recovery of the melt. The melt is directly digested in 6 M nitric acid.

• Boron Isotopes

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from clay particles and other detritus. Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis
• Boron

Less sample material may be required if high lead concentration. Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis
• Lead Isotopes
• U-Th Dating (enamel only)
• Strontium Chronology (if marine)

Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

• Sr Isotopes Analysis
• Boron
• U-Th Dating (enamel only)
• Strontium Chronology (if marine)

To remove non-biogenic Pb from enamel or bone, samples will be sequentially treated by 0.1 N acetic acid. Please contact the lab if you want to follow different protocols or you prefer to skip this stage.

• Strontium Isotope Analysis

Must be received dry and homogenized or extra charge will be applied.

• U-Th Dating
• Sr Isotopes Analysis
• Boron

Use any type of small-neck plastic bottle (HDPE, LDPE, PP) to collect your sample. Rinse the bottle with the running sample water prior to collection. Do not add any chemicals to the water, do not acidify the water. Fill the bottle all the way to the top, you may leave a small space at the top (keep the neck of the bottle empty) to allow for any necessary expansion during shipment. Please put the bottles inside a plastic bag and seal the bag with a zip-tie or duct tape. Clearly label both bottle and the plastic bag.

• Boron Isotopes
• Sr Isotope Analysis