Multi-collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Multi-collector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) is an analytical method for determining isotopic ratios. Ratios of Pb, Sr, and Nd isotopes, among others, can be highly diagnostic of geological formations from different regions, and thus the ability to measure these ratios in archaeological materials made from these geological materials is a powerful tracer for provenance studies. Since 2014, researchers at the Archaeometry Laboratory have been using MC-ICP-MS to address archaeological questions.

Sample Submission & Rates

Clean room overview
Acid cleaning cycle of PFA vials
Sample preparation
Acid digestion of ceramics
Columns with Sr-Spec resin bed
Sr extractions
Columns with Ln-Spec resin bed
Sr and Nd sequential extraction
Nu Plasma II (NP206 – Nu Instruments)