Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

The most common isotopes analysed with TIMS are those of the elements: Rb-Sr, U-Pb and Sm-Nd.

The main advantages of TIMS are:

• high precision isotope analyses
• possibility to use very small samples

Environmental applications

• determination of the origin of local and long-range transported pollutants
• study of historical changes of the magnitude of air contamination due to local and international environmental policies
• the use of biological material as "environmental archives" to understand the evolution of manmade pollution
  

Geological applications 

• use of the Sr seawater curve for stratigraphic control
• isotopes as a tool to study the communication between sandstone bodies
• identification of provenance areas of detrial sediments
• radiometric dating of rocks

Archaeological applications

• study of human mobility during historic-prehistoric time
• determination and comparison of nutrient intake in recent and historic times
• pollution linked to social status in society