Recent News

Isobar Science 2022 Holiday / Lab Closure Schedule

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Please be informed the Miami lab will be closed on the following dates: May 30 (Memorial Day) …

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Isoscapes: connecting samples to place

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

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On-demand Webinar – Bone Samples in Archaeology

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View our on-demand webinar on Isotope Applications: Bone Samples in Archaeology. Topics include when to use radiocarbon dating versus uranium-thorium dating.

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

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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.

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Using Stable Isotopes to Track Animal Origin and Migration

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The details of animal origin and migratory routes through terrestrial and aquatic systems can be traced through the analysis of various stable isotopes including strontium, neodymium, carbon and oxygen.

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Tracing Petroleum and Other Pollutants Using Lead Isotopes

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Lead isotopes (Pb) are known to be a very toxic non-essential element, with origins within the earth’s crust. Through anthropogenic activities, lead becomes altered and released into the atmosphere, where it acts as a trace aerosol pollutant.

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ACRA Webinar on Bones: Isotopes in Dating, Diets and Migration Studies

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Bones: Isotopes in Dating, Diets and Migration Studies
Live Webinar: April 14, 2022 – 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM Eastern Time

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Isobar Science Exhibits at SAA 2022

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Isobar Science and Beta Analytic continue to support the Society of American Archaeology (SAA) by joining its annual meeting as an exhibitor.

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Isobar’s Webinar: Migration Studies & Geographic Origin

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Isobar’s webinar on migration studies and geographic origin will focus on lead isotopes for tracking origin and trade of metal artifacts in addition to using strontium isotopes to track diet.

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A highlight on tsunami research: Professor Sam Purkis

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A study researchering the dynamics of carbonate stratigraphy and vulnerability of sea life to climate change used a combination of radiocarbon and U-Th dating of corals and cemented sediments to date an incipient submarine landslide

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Boron & Nitrates Webinar: Tracing Sources of Anthropogenic Pollution

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Beta Analytic and Isobar Science invite all researchers to view our complimentary webinar focusing on Boron & Nitrates: Tracing Sources of Anthropogenic Pollution

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Tracing Volcanic Eruptions using Isotopes

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Volcanic eruptions are significant geological events with far reaching implications. The analysis of isotopes in various sample types can provide information on the timing and magnitude of past volcanic eruptions.

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Lead Isotopes in Archaeology

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In archaeological studies, lead isotopes are measured for two main applications: tracing origin of metal artefacts and reconstructing human origin and migratory patterns.

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Boron Isotopes as a tracer for oceanic CO2 and ocean acidification

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Boron isotopes are predominately made up of two naturally occurring stable isotopes – 10B and 11B. In the biosphere, boron represents a trace element integrated into organisms, allowing one to reconstruct variability in δ11B over time.

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Strontium Isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) for Geochronology

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Strontium ratios have varied in the world’s oceans through time as a result of fluctuations in strontium type and availability, often resulting from weathering of continental materials as well as volcanic activity at the mid-oceanic ridge. Such variations are recorded in oceanic sediment as a result of the precipitation of minerals from seawater, which has been used as a basis for the 87Sr/86Sr marine curve.

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Corals: A marine recorder of climate variability

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Before a time series of climate variability can be developed, the coral growth bands must first be dated. Corals can be dated using radiocarbon dating, U-Th dating and/or Sr-Sr dating.

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Sediments Webinar: Dating & Environmental Reconstructions

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Isobar Science and Beta Analytic’s webinar on sediments focuses on dating & environmental reconstructions. This complimentary webinar takes place on December 2, 2021 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada).

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Analysing lake sediment cores: from dating to paleoclimate reconstructions

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Sediments used for climate and environmental reconstructions come in many different forms (including lacustrine, marine, peat, terrestrial and aeolian deposits) and can be characterized by their grain size, shape, sedimentary facies, chemical and biological composition and accumulation/sedimentation rate.

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How to choose optimal samples for U-Th dating

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U-Th dating can be used to date various sample types including cave deposits/speleothems, corals, shells, bones and carbonate layers in sedimentary successions.

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Bones Webinar: Isotopes in Dating, Diets and Migration Studies

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Isobar Science and Beta Analytic’s bones webinar focuses on C-14 and U-Th methods for bone samples. Topics include optimal sample types, common issues, and how to prepare bone samples for isotopic analysis.

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Geochemistry: Stable and Radioactive Isotopes

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In geochemical research, stable and unstable isotopes are used to understand the chemistry behind natural processes. Isotopes are different forms of a single element, with differing numbers of neutrons within their nucleus, resulting in different atomic masses.

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Developing Chronologies for Reconstructing Past Climates

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Paleoclimate archives are generally dated using two main methods: radiocarbon and uranium-thorium dating. 14C dating tends to be more accurate, however, it can only be used on samples that are less than around 50,000 years old. Whereas U-Th dating can be used for the last 500,000 years.

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Analysing Water Samples

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Stable and radioactive isotopes can be analysed in groundwater and surface water samples in order to assess the magnitude and origin of pollution, rate of pollution infiltration into the environment, and timing of water interactions with the atmosphere.

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Paleoclimatology Webinar: Isotopes in dating and climate-proxy relationships

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Isobar Science and Beta Analytic’s paleclimatology webinar focuses on the importance of C-14 and U-Th dating in paleoclimatology, and how archives can be used to reconstruct past climate.

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Mineral Dust Samples: Analysing Strontium (Sr), Strontium-Neodymium-Hafnium (Sr-Nd-Hf) and Lead (Pb)

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The origin and movement of atmospheric dust can be estimated by analysing the geochemistry of dust collected directly from the atmosphere or from the dust layers found within ice cores or lacustrine and ocean sediment cores.

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Shells, corals and other carbonates

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Shells, corals and other carbonates are widely used in order to assess variability in climate and environmental conditions in time. A variety of stable and radioactive isotopes can be used to date these samples and provide further information on environmental context during their lifespan.

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The use of isotopic analysis on bones: dating, environmental analysis & migration

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Different isotopes on bone samples may be measured, depending on the scope of the research, and which questions the researcher is seeking to answer.

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Assumptions for U-Th Dating: Open vs. Closed Systems

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The most optimal samples for accurate U-Th dating are those that exist in closed systems, including speleothems and corals. In some cases, bones and lake sediments may also be used, but the state of your samples should be carefully considered prior to planning your analysis and interpreting U-Th dating results.

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What is U-Th dating?

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U-Th dating is an analytical method used to date calcium carbonate (CaCO3) bearing samples, including cave deposits/speleothems, CaCO3 rock, corals, shells and (in some cases) bones.

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Isobar’s Webinar: Application of Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb Isotope Systematics in Earth Science

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View our on-demand webinar “Geochemical Fingerprinting: Application of Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb Isotope Systematics in Earth Science.” Topics include: how different processes control the distribution of elements in the earth system; measuring Sr, Nd, Hf, and Pb and reporting conventions; application of Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb systematics in studying the governing processes in the earth system; research design and sampling strategies; and what to expect from your lab when measuring Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb isotopes.

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Strontium, Neodymium, Hafnium, and Lead Isotope Systematics in Earth Science

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Sr, Nd, Hf and Pb are four isotopes that are inherent in many geological settings, and thus have been used to trace the evolution of metamorphic and igneous rocks, track the origin of sediments and dust, analyze weathering regimes and reconstruct past ocean circulation.

Sr-Nd Isotopes for Weathering Studies

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Continental weathering is an important part of the global carbon cycle. The measurements of strontium and neodymium isotopes have been especially important in this research domain.

Studying past climates using stable isotopes

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The study of past climates (paleoclimatology) offers an opportunity to improve the predictability of future climate change. The stable isotopes of boron (δ11B) and oxygen (δ18O) are two important variables used to reconstruct climate in a variety of natural archives.

Isotopic analysis in forensic geography

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Using isotopic analysis of skeletal remains and forensic evidence, one can reconstruct human profiles, analyse the environmental conditions antemortem and estimate the time of death. Other forensics-related investigations using isotope geochemistry include the analysis of trace evidence materials as well as provenancing illegal wildlife, bullets, narcotics, and other forensic evidence.

Tracing the diet of herbivores and omnivores through isotopic analysis

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Understanding the movement of herbivores across a landscape and ecological dynamics through time is important for current conservation and ecosystem management, while providing valuable insights into evolution and adaptation. Documented historical evidence in the relationship between organisms and their surrounding vegetation is generally limited and thus isotopic analysis of fossils can provide valuable insights into this important area of research.

Isobar’s Pb Isotopes Webinar

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Register here to view Isobar Science’s free webinar on Lead Isotopes and Applications.
Live Webinar: March 24, 2021
Speakers: Dr. Maren Pauly and Dr. Arash Sharifi

U-Th Dating vs Radiocarbon Dating

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The analysis of the uranium-thorium (U-Th) decay chain can be used to date a variety of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) bearing samples, including cave deposits (e.g. speleothems), calcium carbonate rock, corals, shells and (in some cases) bones. This method can be used to date samples existing from present day until 500,000 calendar years before present.

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Isobar’s Geochemistry of Strontium Isotopes Webinar

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Register here to view Isobar Science’s free webinar on Strontium Isotopes available on demand.
Live Webinar: February 17, 2021
Speaker: Dr. Arash Sharifi, VP of Lab Operations at Isobar Science

Isobar’s U-Th Dating Webinar

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Register to watch Isobar’s U-Th Dating Webinar on-demand.
Live Webinar: January 27, 2021
Speaker: Dr. Maren Pauly, Beta Analytic and Isobar Science Account Manager

Isobar Science’s Boron Isotopes Webinar

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View Isobar’s Boron Isotopes free webinar on-demand.
Live Webinar: November 12, 2020
Speaker: Sean Ahearn, Project Manager for Water Services at Beta Analytic

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Isobar Science Presents at EGU2020: Sharing Geoscience Online

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The EGU General Assembly 2020 has moved online. EGU2020: Sharing Geoscience Online is free and open to anyone, no registration required. So, come hear Isobar Science research & development scientist Dr. Arash Sharifi present evidence from Iranian stalagmites that early human mobility in SW Asia was driven by regional climate change events.

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Isobar Science Offers High-quality Isotopic Analysis

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Isobar Science is a subsidiary of radiocarbon dating and biobased testing laboratory Beta Analytic. Isobar Science provides high-quality stable isotope analysis with timely data for the following services: Sr isotopes, U-Th dating, Pb isotopes, B isotopes, Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic ratios.

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