Abstract
It is important, before we dive into the many applications of isotopes in the natural environment sciences, to consider how exactly we analyse our samples: what analytical techniques we use, how we prepare our samples, and how we interpret our results. The major analytical equipment we will use is the mass spectrometer, which separates isotopes by their mass.
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Further Reading
Further Reading
Unfortunately, the analytical methodology of isotopes, from sample collection and preparation, to analysis, and to data treatment and interpretation, is rarely described in a single book, which leaves us to look into a great many papers in order to collect the information required. Further, this topic is best learned in the laboratory, by actually conducting analytical work. However, there are a few sources that we can peruse and learn from:
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Handbook of Stable Isotope Analytical Techniques, Volume I, P.A. de Groot, Elsevier, 2004, ISBN 978-0-444-51114-0.
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Handbook of Stable Isotope Analytical Techniques Volume II, P.A. de Groot, Elsevier, 2004, ISBN 978-0-444-51115-7.
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Isotopes: Principles and Applications, G. Faure and T.M. Mensing, Wiley, 2005, ISBN 978-047-138437-3
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Radiogenic Isotope Geology, A.P. Dickin, Cambridge University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-521-82316-1. Chapter 2, Mass Spectrometry, is the chapter of interest to us.
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Isotopic Analysis: Fundamentals and Applications Using ICP-MS, F. Vanhaecke and P. Degryse, Editors, Willey, 2012, ISBN 978-3527328963.
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Modern Analytical Geochemistry, R. Gill, Editor, Longman, 1997, ISBN 0-582-09944-7. We will focus on Chaps. 8–10, 12, 15, and 16.
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Stable Isotope Geochemistry, J. Hoefs, Springer-Verlag, 1997, ISBN 3-540-61126-6. Chapter 1 contains some important pointers.
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Using Geochemical Data, H. Rollinson, Pearson Education, 1993, ISBN 0-582-06701-4. The relevant chapters are Chaps. 6 and 7.
Questions
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Which characteristic of isotopes do we use to measure their concentrations and ratios? What is the corresponding analytical instrument called and how does it work? What are its main components and how do they work?
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What is resolving power?
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What sort of accessories and add-ons are there?
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What are the main types of sample preparation for the major stable isotopes?
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Alexandre, P. (2020). Analytical Methodology. In: Isotopes and the Natural Environment. Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33652-3_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33652-3_2
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