Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry Facility (RRID:SCR_019300)

Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry Facility
Facility summary

   kathryn.snell@colorado.edu
  Website 

  • Location: BESC 345
  • Technology focus: light stable isotopes (H, C, N, O)
  • Mass spectrometers:
    • Continuous flow stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Delta V Plus) for elemental and headspace isotope analyses (H, C, N, O)
    • Continuous flow stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (MAT 253 Plus) for gas chromatographic (=compound-specific) isotope analyses (H & C)
    • Dual inlet stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer (MAT 253 Plus) for high precision carbonate isotope analysis (C, O, Δ47, Δ48)
  • Open to: CU Boulder and external/industry use


The CU Boulder Earth Systems Stable Isotope Lab (CUBES-SIL)provides cutting-edge capabilities for measuring the carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope composition of various molecules and materials. These measurements have applications in diverse scientific disciplines ranging from the earth sciences (paleoclimate, paleoecology, geobiology, hydrology, diagenesis and metamorphism) to ecology, forensics, planetary sciences, microbiology, food science and agriculture. The CUBES-SIL has three magnetic sector, gas-source, isotope ratio mass spectrometers with various peripherals and custom-built inlet systems.

Katie Snell

Prof. Katie Snell
Facility Director

Sebastian Kopf

Prof. Sebastian Kopf
Co-Director​​