Assessing the effects of embedding resins on carbonate stable and clumped isotope analyses

Rationale Embedding resins are widely used to fix carbonates for high-precision sample preparation and high-resolution sampling. However, these embedding materials difficult remove after known affect the accuracy of carbonate stable isotope analyses. Nevertheless, their impact on clumped analysis, which is particularly sensitive contamination artifacts, has so far not been tested. The observation that running resin-containing samples decreased reproducibility values internal laboratory standards increased external standard deviation (SD 0.061–0.088‰) compared long-term observations (0.034‰), prompted us set up an experiment test influence resin addition instrument performance. Methods Here we analyzed composition a pure calcium (ETH-4) mixed with three types in 2:1 1:1 proportions. Our aim was assess how affects Results We found none isotopic were significantly different. δ13C −10.22 ± 0.07‰ (mean SD) ETH-4, while ETH-4 proportions −10.21 0.06‰ −10.18 0.06‰, respectively (p > 0.05). δ18O −18.82 0.11‰ versus −18.81 0.09‰ 0.08‰ ETH-4:resin mixtures, Given large uncertainty our results, did find significant differences between different mixtures (Δ47), 0.458 0.107‰, 0.464 0.086‰, 0.417 0.089‰ resin-related bias results might be masked by uncertainty. measured study similar InterCarb (δ13C = −10.20‰, −18.81‰, Δ47 0.450‰, InterCarb-Carbon Dioxide Equilibrium Scale). SD sessions measuring higher than without deliberate same period. Conclusions potential from leads larger variability including resins. therefore recommend purification embedded using trap Porapak prior if possible, or avoiding during workup, as well monitoring measurement quality containing