Metal isotope indicators can provide important reference information for solving fundamental problems in different disciplines such as earth sciences, biological sciences and chemistry, and have attracted wide attention in various fields. For example, the information of micro-regional Sr and Ca isotopes in stalagmites can reflect climate changes and plant productivity on the millennial scale or even centennial scale, while the Cd, Mo and Li isotopes can be used as geochemical indicators in corals, sedimentary carbonate layers, foraminifera, and micro-biological fossil shells, which can reflect the sedimentary and diagenetic paleoenvironments, changes in temperature and redox conditions of ancient seawater, and the terrestrial weathering rates changes. Hg and Li isotopes show unique advantages in indicating the connection between early volcanic activity and paleoenvironmental changes as well as biological mass extinction. Pb isotopes play an important role in tracing atmospheric particulate pollutants, modern/ancient urban environmental pollution, and material cycling. Sr, Ca, Zn, Cu and other stable isotope systems are widely involved in biological cycling by identifying the isotopic imprints of biological activity in environmental samples (“biosignatures”), which can provide new ideas for the development of geobiology.

MC-ICP-MS has been widely used for high-precision analysis of various metal isotopes such as B, Li, Rb, Pb, Mo, Ca, Hf, Lu, Os, Nd, Re, Po, Sm, Sr, Mg, Zr, Fe, Zn, Co, Ni, Cd, Sb, Hg, etc. The MC-ICP-MS in our laboratory is mainly used to construct an advanced isotope analysis technology platform for geobiology research in conjunction with the laboratory's important development direction of biological/environmental geological process research. Isotopic ratios were measured using a Nu Plasma II MC-ICP-MS instrument (Nu instruments, UK) which is able to measure high-precision isotope ratios of elements in the mass range of 3-300 amu. Its detection system consists of 16 Faraday cups and 5 ion counters, which allows isotope measurements to cover the full mass range of elements. Since the official operation in 2015, we have established high-precision isotope analysis methods including Li, Pb, Ca, Nd, Sr, Fe, Cd, Sb, Hg, etc. The laboratory research platform implements an open, mobile and joint operation mechanism, in addition to ensuring the normal scientific activities of the laboratory, we are actively carrying out external metal isotope testing services and collaborative research.