Stable Isotope Lab
The JMU Stable Isotope Lab analyzes bulk organic, carbonate, and water samples.
Note: this is not a for-fee lab. The information below is provided for students, collaborators, and anyone interested in how we rock out in the lab.
Vario Pyrocube elemental analyzer (left) and visION stable isotope mass spectrometer (right)
Elementar Vario Pyrocube (2013) and visION IRMS (2022)
We measure the following materials:
%C and %N on any combustible material
δ13C and δ15N on bulk organic matter in soils, paleosols, and rocks; plant tissue and extracts that include wood, cellulose, and amber; and food products and animal tissue
All samples are measured against calibrated reference materials USGS41a and USGS61
Calibration of in-house reference materials is currently underway
Sample preparation SOPs can be found here.
The Pyrocube is currently set up in CN mode, but can be configured in CNS combustion mode or for pyrolysis HO mode to analyze phosphates or other substrates
Elementar Gilson Multiflow and Isoprime100 IRMS (2013)
We measure the following materials:
δ2H and δ18O on waters
δ13C and δ18O on carbonates