Geo & Cosmochemistry
Using isotopic analysis to answer the big questions about the origins and evolution of Earth and the Solar System
Advanced Mass Spectrometry for Geochemistry and Planetary Science
Unlocking the elemental and isotopic signatures of Earth, meteorites, and planetary materials with ICP-MS, TIMS, TOF-ICP-MS, and IRMS technologies.
Nu Instruments’ mass spectrometry technologies provide a powerful toolkit for geochemistry and planetary science research, enabling scientists to investigate the origin, evolution, and age of Earth and extraterrestrial materials with exceptional precision.
Geochemistry and cosmochemistry or planetary science research relies on precise elemental and isotopic measurements to understand how planets form, evolve, and interact over time. Researchers use these techniques to determine the age of rocks and meteorites, trace the sources of magmas and ore deposits, reconstruct past climatic and environmental conditions, investigate mantle and crustal evolution, and study the processes that shaped the Earth, Moon, and other planetary bodies. From analysing isotope signatures in ancient minerals to mapping elemental distributions within geological samples, advanced mass spectrometry provides the data needed to uncover the history of planetary materials and answer fundamental questions about the origin and evolution of our solar system.
Trace elemental and isotopic analysis with high sensitivity, making it valuable for impurity monitoring and advanced nanomaterial research.
Enables high-precision isotopic measurements and advanced elemental investigations where isotope tracing or material provenance studies are required.
Exceptional speed and elemental coverage, analysing nearly the entire periodic table thousands of times per second.
Flexibility, high performance and reliability - achieve precise measurements from the smallest sample.
Featured Publications
Laser Ablation U-Pb Geochronology
High precision Molybdenum isotopes
TIMS, MC-ICP-MS
Geochronology & Planetary Evolution
Understanding when geological and planetary events occurred is fundamental to both geochemistry and cosmochemistry. Isotopic analysis allows researchers to determine the ages of rocks, minerals, meteorites, and planetary materials, providing insights into the formation of the Earth, Moon, and solar system. By studying radiogenic isotope systems and isotopic variations preserved within ancient materials, scientists can investigate planetary differentiation, crust formation, mantle evolution, and the timing of key events that shaped terrestrial and extraterrestrial bodies.
MC-ICP-MS, HR-ICP-MS, TOF
Earth Processes & Resource Formation
Elemental and isotopic signatures provide powerful tools for understanding the dynamic processes operating within the Earth. Researchers use geochemical analysis to trace magma sources, investigate mantle-crust interactions, study volcanic systems, and understand the evolution of continental crust. These approaches are also applied to ore deposit research, helping identify the sources of metals, pathways of hydrothermal fluids, and mechanisms responsible for concentrating economically important resources.
IRMS, MC-ICP-MS
Environmental & Climate Research
Stable isotope measurements provide unique insights into environmental and climate processes operating across a range of timescales. Researchers analyse isotopic variations in sediments, carbonates, waters, biological materials, and atmospheric samples to reconstruct past climates, investigate biogeochemical cycles, and understand environmental change. Isotopic tracers are also used to identify the origins and movement of fluids, sediments, and geological materials, supporting studies of groundwater systems, weathering processes, and ocean chemistry.
TOF, MC-ICP-MS, TIMS
Spatial Geochemistry & Cosmochemistry
Modern geochemical research increasingly focuses on understanding compositional variations at ever smaller scales. High-resolution elemental and isotopic analysis enables researchers to map the distribution of elements within minerals, rocks, meteorites, and other complex materials, revealing growth histories, alteration processes, and geological events that may not be visible through bulk analysis alone. In cosmochemistry, these techniques provide critical evidence for the processes that governed solar system formation and evolution.
