Strontium Isotope Analysis – Sample Types and Selection

Black Shale must be homogenized prior to submission.

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

• Lead Isotopes
• U-Th Dating

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. A larger sample size is required if we need to ash the samples. Samples are digested in 8 M nitric acid (lower concentrations may be used if the sample contains clay and detritus). if the sample contains clay and detritus). A larger sample size is required if we need to ash the samples.

• Lead Isotopes

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.

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.

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.

• Lead Isotopes

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from clay particles and other detritus. Samples are digested in 6 M nitric acid (lower concentrations may be used if the sample contains clay and detritus).

• None

Gypsum microcrystals and gypsiferous (gypsum-rich) sediments: Gypsiferous sediments and gypsum microcrystals contain large quantities of detritic materials. Isolation of gypsum crystals from the matrix fragments must be conducted prior to sample submission. If this is not feasible by the client, Isobar Science offers isolation of gypsum crystals by means of density separation for an additional charge.

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

• Boron
• U-Th Dating

Rock samples need to be homogenized prior to submission. For effective sample dissolution, high-temperature flux fusion is the method of choice. Homogenized samples are 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 isotope measurements can be conducted on smaller sample sizes, please consult the lab before submitting samples.

• Lead Isotopes

Aerosol samples collected on filter paper must be ashed entirely prior to submission. All organics must be removed from the sample either by ashing or with hydrogen peroxide. A larger sample size is required if we need to remove the organics or ash the samples. For effective sample dissolution, high-temperature flux fusion is the method of choice. Aerosol samples are 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 isotope measurements can be conducted on smaller sample sizes, please consult the lab before submitting samples.

• Lead Isotopes

All organics must be removed prior to submission.

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

• None at this time

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 Sr 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 isotope measurements can be conducted on smaller sample sizes, please consult the lab before submitting samples.

• Lead Isotopes

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from clay particles and other detritus. Homogenize your samples, preferably using an agate mortar and pestle, and transfer into plastic or glass vials. Homogenized samples are digested in 6 M nitric acid (lower concentrations may be used if the sample contains clay and detritus).

• Boron Isotopes
• U-Th Dating

All organics must be removed and samples must be homogenized prior to submission.

Homogenize your samples, preferably using an agate mortar and pestle, and transfer into plastic or glass vials. Homogenized samples are digested in 6 M nitric acid.

• U-Th Dating

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

• None at this time

To remove non-biogenic Sr 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.

• Lead Isotopes
• U-Th Dating

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 the bottle and the plastic bag.

• Boron Isotopes
• Lead Isotopes

For the best results, make sure your samples are clean and free from soil, clay particles, calcite, and other detritus. Dye will be removed from the wool prior to digestion and extraction chromatography. Contact the lab if you are also interested in measuring strontium isotopes in dye fraction.

• Strontium Isotopes (dye fraction)