Science

Geochemistry and Climate Change
ERC Project

Isotopes - the Basics

In its simplest form, an isotope is a chemical element, such as hydrogen, or iron or aluminium. Many (but not all) elements have several isotopes, that is forms of an element with different masses.

Weathering and Thermostat

Chemical weathering is the dissolution of rock during interaction with water. It is the process that (along with physical erosion) creates river valleys, canyons, caves and mountain ranges. 

As the rock is dissolved, the mobile elements of the rock (e.g. Na, Ca, Mg, etc.) are dissolved in the water, and will eventually be washed into the oceans. The immobile elements (e.g. Fe, Al, Ti, etc.) tend not to dissolve, are left behind and form soils. 

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Bitesized Science

The Isotope Encyclopedia

Here you find some basic science information to help you understand what we do

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Magnesium

Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal, which inhabits the second column of the periodic table. It shares this column with calcium and strontium. In the Earth, Mg is the 9th most abundant element in the universe, but the 4th most abundant one in the Earth.

Lithium

In its simplest form, an isotope is a chemical element, such as hydrogen, or iron or aluminium. Many (but not all) elements have several isotopes, that is forms of an element with different masses.

Working in a Lab

 

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Clean Labs

Masspecs

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Designing a Lab