Analysis - Stable Isotope Analysis

Kinetic processes affect abundances of stable isotopes such that they may be different between two coexisting minerals, or between mineral and fluids, etc. These fractionations are also temperature dependent. Kinetic mass fractionation is mass dependent and so lighter isotope systems have greater potential because of the larger fractional difference in mass. Common systems for analysis are C, O, and S.

The stable isotopes generally emit strongly as negative ions requiring use of the Cs primary beam and charge neutralization in the case of the analysis of insulators. Precisions around 0.1 permil and accuracy of the order of 0.3 permil can be obtained on SHRIMP in O and S isotopic analysis.