Lab: Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometers

Managed by Tom Owens and Prof. Don DePaolo
465-469 McCone Hall, UC Berkeley

Our current machines are VG Sector 54 solid source mass spectrometers. One is equipped with multicollectors and is capable of high precision Sr (±15 ppm in the ratio, 100 ng total Sr) and Nd (±10 ppm in the ratio with 100 ng total Nd). The other is equipped with a single collector and is used for routine isotopic analyses and elemental concentrations.

In late 2003 we are getting a Thermo-Finnigan Triton TI, and should have it running by 2004. This machine will have nine movable Faraday bucket collectors. It is designed for a wide mass range, which is particularly useful for Ca and Fe isotope work. Its capability for very high precision Sr and Nd isotopic measurements will enhance our paleoceanographic, petrological and geochronological studies.

The three campus mass spectrometers together will provide high precision isotopic and isotope dilution analyses of Rb, Sr, Nd, Sm, Ca, K, Re, Os, Fe, U, Th, Pb, Ba, La, Ce, as well as a few other elements.

We have a 2,000 square foot clean laboratory, part of which is devoted to a clean chemistry laboratory for low-blank separation of elements of interest for isotopic studies. The lab is equipped with sufficient hood and workspace to allow up to 12 workers.

The main part of the clean laboratory is designed to provide a general level class 10,000 air, with specified class 1000 to class 100 work areas. A sub-laboratory is designed to have a general level of class 1000 with class 100 to class 10 work areas. This smaller lab is designed for low-blank Pb work.

Our own clean mineral separation and rock preparation laboratory supplements the Earth and Planetary Science Department facilities. The mineral separation lab is used for preparing predominantly low-concentration and low-mass samples. ↑Top