Instrumentation for automated and rapid 'clumped isotope' analyses of small carbonate samples.

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The field of stable isotopes studies their distribution in different reservoirs to understand the processes occurring within and at the interface between Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. These complex processes are ultimately recorded over geologic time in minerals such as carbonates. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis of carbonate minerals is among the most common and useful measurements in isotope geochemistry. Oxygen isotope studies of carbonates have been used as a proxy for temperature for more than 50 years. It has been recently demonstrated that differences in bonding energies between 'rare' and 'common' isotopes results in 'clumping' of the rare isotopes that can be used as a thermometer. Acquisition of a KIEL IV Carbonate Device will provide fully automated high throughput (10,000 samples per year) analysis of tiny (~200 µg) carbonate samples from reaction to result reporting. This automated setup is critical to the research programs of the applicants. Banerjee will use the equipment to understand mineralizing processes that form base and precious metal ore deposits, aqueous processing in meteorites, and paleoenvironmental conditions during colonization of some of Earth's earliest life forms. Longstaffe will use the equipment to trace Great Lakes water history and climate change, track climatic and dietary shifting in Holocene megafauna, and measure changes in whole diet and drinking water to detect human societal changes. Jin will use the equipment for automated microanalysis of brachiopod growth stages to evaluate their reliability as a paleoclimactic indicator. Cheadle will use the equipment to perform 'clumped isotope' geothermometry of carbonate cements in carbonaceous mudstone petroleum systems. Tsujita will use the equipment to study fossil coral growth ridges, cements in calcareous and sideritic concretions, and aragonitic ammonite and bivalve shells for paleothermometry of water masses. The equipment will allow increased HQP training by increasing capacity, provide critical capacity to routinely analyze small samples, and provide access to advanced tools (e.g., clumped isotope analysis) by new and existing collaborators, including Canadian industry.