Stable isotope analysis

Stable isotopes are essential in geoscience, economic geology, space science, marine science, and archaeology for understanding processes like rock formation, ore deposition, planetary evolution, ocean circulation, and ancient human behavior. They serve as tracers for climate change, resource exploration, extraterrestrial materials, ecosystem dynamics, and historical diets, providing critical insights across these diverse fields.

The SHRIMP SI is specialized for analyzing light stable isotopes as negative secondary ions, including C, O, N, S, and Cl, while the SHRIMP II focuses on metal isotopes as positive secondary ions, such as Mg and Ca. Below is a list of isotopes and sample types that can be analyzed: 

13C-12C (calcite, dolomite)

15N-14N (teeth dentine)

18O-(17O)-16O (zircon, garnet, quartz, calcite, dolomite, apatite, meteorite, otoliths, corals, shells, teeth and marine fossils)

25Mg-24Mg (calcite, dolomite)

(36S)-34S-(33S)-32S (sulfides)

37Cl-35Cl (apatite)

42Ca-40Ca (calcite, dolomite, apatite)

SHRIMP SI is exceptional for 4-sulfur and 3-oxygen analysis. 

Trace and volatile element analysis

Trace and volatile element abundances offer important constraints on petrogenetic processes.

 SHRIMP II and SHRIMP RG have been calibrated for rare earth and trace elements in many materials (e.g., zircon, quartz and volcanic glass).  SHRIMP SI has been calibrated for halogens and sulfur abundances in some materials (e.g., volcanic glass, meteorite, and asteroids).

U-Pb analysis

SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology is a precise method used to determine the age of zircon and other U-bearing minerals by measuring isotopic ratios of uranium and lead. This technique is widely applied in geology for dating igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary processes, providing insights into the Earth's history. Below is a list of minerals can be dated on SHRIMP: 

U-Th-Pb (zircon, cassiterite, monazite, titanite, xenotime, rutile, baddeleyite, perovskite)