Stable Isotope Lab

Department

Geosciences

Address

4505 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT  84322

Contact 

Dr. Dennis Newell
dennis.newell@usu.edu

The USU Geosciences Stable Isotope Laboratory is equipped for analyses of the “light stable isotopes” in a wide variety of materials. The core instrument is a Thermo Scientific Delta V Advantage isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) that is coupled to three peripheral devices, including a Thermo Scientific Gasbench II, Thermo Scientific TC/EA with zero-blank autosampler, and a Costech 4010 Elemental Analyzer with zero-blank autosampler. Established continuous flow – IRMS methods for natural-abundance stable isotope ratio analyses include:  C and O in carbonates, C in CO₂ gas, O and H in water, dissolved inorganic C in water, C and N (and TOC, TON) in organic matter, O in organic matter, and H in hydrous minerals and some organic matter. Other instrumentation includes a Picarro Isotopic CO₂ Analyzer, a Sartorius microbalance, vacuum and standard ovens. The lab is located adjacent to the Geosciences Geochemistry lab that houses two fume hoods and is outfitted for general wet chemistry and sample preparation. Contact lab PI, Dr. Dennis Newell, for more information.