Facilities
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The Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory consists of two clean chemistry labs (one for Pb and one for Nd/Sr/Ca and all else) and a climate-controlled room for the mass spectrometer. The mass spec is a seven-collector VG Sector. As with all Sectors, part of using one is learning how to repair one.
At present, the instrument is routinely running samples for the Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, U-Pb (radiogenic and common) isotope systems, and for small-sample or high-precision concentrations of Mg, Ca, V, and U in carbonates and seawater.
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The Sector torn apart, looking for why the one of the logic bits that controls the focus unit drops out occasionally (turned out to be a faulty DA converter as well as an intermittant short in an internal (board to board) cable). |