Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry - Tims

The TIMS laboratory houses a Thermo-Finnigan Triton thermal ionisation instrument equipped with 9 Faraday collectors , and an electron multiplier.

The Tims is routinely used to analyse elements in a wide variety of research disciplines:

• Mantle xenoliths and mantle derived magmas to trace the geochemical evolution of the earth's mantle.
• biomedical research using plasma spectroscopy to study the effects of Pt-bearing antic-cancer drugs and in measuring ultra-low-levels of P (ppb) to characterise DNA levels and in the analysis of sulfur.
• biological tracing projects are being undertaken using radiogenic isotopes as tracers of migration habits
• We have collaborative research programmes in the chemical and isotopic tracing of Archaeological artefacts and population dynamics of former communities. This work is carried out with colleagues in the Durham Archaeological Sciences.