New Nu Plasma 1700 Lab

The Department of Geological Sciences at San Diego State University Geological has just completed the installation of the Nu Plasma 1700 mass spectrometer. The Nu 1700 is a high-resolution mass spectrometer used to identify the proportions of isotopes of an element, i.e., atoms with the same number of protons but differing numbers of neutrons. Distinctive ratios of isotopes can be used as fingerprints or tracers to indicate the origin and evolution of the rock or earth material from which the element came.
The Nu 1700 is the second of its kind in the world. The first instrument was installed in Zurich in March of 2002. Our instrument was manufactured in Wrexam, Wales, UK by Nu Instruments LTD., the only company making instruments like the 1700. The Nu 1700 took three years to build and test. It is very large, occupying about 400 sq ft of lab space. The magnet alone weighs 5 tons. For vibration interference protection, the instrument was installed in a specially built laboratory on a concrete and steel pedestal, sunk into the earth beneath the GMCS building.
Barry Hanan, the administrator for the Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory for the past 16 years, secured through a combination of SDSU internal funding, National Science Foundation grant money, and corporate cost sharing, the funds to acquire the $1.2 million instrument.
The SDSU geochemistry labs serve as a world-class center for isotope geochemical research. Researchers from as far away as Japan, Germany, France, and Turkey come to SDSU for collaborative projects involving exotic places like Iceland, Hawaii, the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, the Galapagos Islands, and many other places of geologic importance. We believe that the interaction between visiting world class scientists and SDSU students and colleges fosters an intellectually challenging climate focused on identifying global problems in the Earth sciences and their resolution through isotope geochemistry.

Panoramic View of the Instrument and Lab

The Arrival of the Nu Plasma 1700

Special Thanks Ethan A. Singer - Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Thomas R. Scott - Vice President for Research, Patrick J. Papin - Associate Dean for College of Sciences, Carl Schneider - Planning & Design Physical Plant, Carl J. Carrano - Department Chair for Chemistry, and Gary H. Girty - Department Chair for Geological Sciences.