Stable Isotope Geochemistry Group

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Task Contact: Robert Rye

Task Objectives

Task Statement of Work

Task Highlights & Key Findings

Task Products

Task Objectives

This task provides base funding for the stable isotope laboratory such that it is fully operational at state-of-the-art status. This laboratory supports stable isotope geochemistry based projects in the Minerals Program and throughout the Geologic Discipline (GD) and including projects in the Water Resources Discipline (WRD) and Biological Resources Discipline (BRD). The number of mass spectrometers in the laboratory has increased to the point we feel the need to seek the help of scheduled visits from company engineers to minimize down time. Pumps must be serviced and replaced periodically. Electronics are always vunerable to breakdown. Computers must be upgraded and the operating systems for the mass spectrometers must be made to work on faster computers.

The basic costs required to make the stable isotope laboratory operational (exclusive of the costs of analyses which are charged to individual projects) are covered in this task. This includes costs of the pumps, electronics, computers and other supporting mechanical and electronic devices which are subject to breakdown and/or which need to be upgraded. In addition plans are made to finance the aquistion of new peripherals and mass spectrometers as needed to maintain the state of the art status of the laboratory so it can continue to function as a major USGS resource.

Statement of Work

The laboratory will continue to be a state of the art facility dedicated to cutting edge science in support of USGS mission projects. In addition to annual maintenance on pumps and replacement of electronics new or upgraded computers and software will be installed on the mass spectrometers and the database handling system will be improved. Development of the laser ablation system will continue. Development of the Ion Trap-Time of Flight mass spectrometer will continue. The laboratory will continue to facilitate interdisciplinary science throughout GD as well as with WRD and BRD by meeting requests for stable isotope geochemistry by USGS scientists in a timely fashion. This year analytical projects will be completed for Energy Resources Program scientists, Mapping Program scientists, and Earth Surface processes Program scientists. These projects are in addition to the many projects currently shared with scientists in the MRP.

Highlights & Key Findings

We have been able to successfully upgrade and repair the laboratory as necessary and enter into joint funding venture with BRD regarding the purchase of a new mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer was installed in the summer of 2003 and is now operational. A gas bench was later purchased and installed on the new mass spectrometer. Using the new mass spectrometer techniques have been developed for sulfur isotope analyses of sulfur in organic matter and for nitrogen and oxygen isotope analyses of nitrates. A laser system for opening individual fluid inclusions was purchased and installed in 2004. Computers have been upgraded and data base handling system for the entire laboratory improved. The life of one mass spectrometer has been extended by successful installation of its operating system on a new computer. Numerous requests for stable isotope analytical support from scientists in Minerals, Energy, Mapping, Yucca Mountain, WRD, and BRD have been met in a timely fashion. The laboratory currently supports two Mendehall Fellows as well as a Minerals Program grant recepient.

Hazards Program: The Stable Isotope Laboratory has provided all of the stable isotope data and geochemistry interpretation for the Resources and Hazards of the Hydrothermal Systems in Cascade Volcanoes project. The analytical work is finished on systems at Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier, and Mt. Lassen are now finished. This fall will begin stable isotope studies on Alaskan volcanoes.

Minerals Resources Program: The Stable Isotope Laboratory has provided all the stable isotope data and as appropriate stable isotope geochemical consultations and interpretation for minerals and environmental investigations as well as studies of fundamental processes in the life cycle of mineral deposits carried on by stable isotope project and laboratory personnel. In addition a substantial and increasing number of studies with scientists in BRD and its traditional partners have been conducted. Finally substantial progress has been made in laboratory and technique development toward integrated stable isotope, active gas, noble gas isotopes and trace element chemistry analyses of single fluid inclusions. In addition we hosted laboratory student visitors for thesis related studies of major mineral deposits in Asia.

Energy Resources Program: Several studies have been supported by the Stable Isotope Laboratory: 1) source rock characterization for oils of the Permian Basin of West Texas, 2) a study of saline soils in the Front Range area in northern Colorado, 3) a study of sulfur geochemistry associated with hydrocarbon contamination in Skiatook Lake, Oklahoma, 4) a study of saline soils associated with coal mine spoils in north-central Colorado, 5) a study of the viability of fly ash emplacement at a site in north-central Colorado, 5) a study of the viability of fly ash emplacement at a site in north-central Colorado, 6) calibration of standards for analysis of C- and N-isotopes in organic-rich sedimentary rocks, and 7) C- and N- isotopes in sedimentary rocks spanning the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, Alaska North Slope.

Earth Surface Processes: Recent technique developments in the Stable Isotope Laboratory to analyze sulfur isotope composition of very small amounts of sulfur in various matrices such as organic matter, shells, soil and dust has lead to initial work to test the technique to identify the origin of sulfur in dust in two projects located in the southwest. Carbon and oxygen isotope analyses on charophytes in lake sediments were provided. Isotopic analyses of carbonate minerals to constrain the fluid history of the Rio Grande Rift/northern San Luis Basin.

A 193 nanometer laser purchased with 2007 year-end funds was installed and coupled to the ICP-MS that we purchased with 2006 funds. We now have an operational LA-ICP-MS system for analyzing individual fluid inclusions. The life of the 13-year old VG Optima mass spectrometer has been extended by successful installation of its operating system on a new computer. Numerous requests for stable isotope analytical support have from scientists in Minerals, Energy, Mapping, Yucca Mountain, WRD, and BRD have been met.

WRD: We continue to support the Yucca Mountain Project by providing unlimited access to the Stable Isotope Laboratory to support their efforts to understand paleohydrology of the site. We began working on the Blue Lake climate project.

BRD: We now have over a dozen project with BRD scientists and their traditional clients.

References to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functions, completeness, or accuracy.

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