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Reference Materials and Calibration Services

The Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory (RSIL) of the U.S. Geological Survey provides isotopic reference materials and calibrates user-supplied materials. Reference materials are suitable for use in calibration of analytical instrumentation, for testing analytical methodologies, and for use as quality control samples.

Isotopic Reference Materials and Calibration Services

Solid reference materials available from RSIL

To request Isotopic Reference Materials, the USGS FACILITY SERVICE/USER AGREEMENT needs to be filled out, signed, and transmitted to the RSIL. The signed agreement can either be scanned and saved as a pdf file and e-mailed to isotopes@usgs.gov or faxed to Jennifer Lorenz (secure fax number 703-648-5889). Generally, users only need to fill out this form for their first order. This form will be retained on file and can be used for subsequent orders.
Fill out the USGS RSIL Order Form and e-mail it to isotopes@usgs.gov or fax it to Jennifer Lorenz (secure fax number 703-648-5889).
After receiving the USGS FACILITY SERVICE/USER AGREEMENT and the USGS RSIL Order Form, an order confirmation will be sent to the customer, which is used by the customer to designate payment type (accepted forms of payment are credit card, check and wire transfer). For Federal Customers, the accepted form of payment is by IPAC. After payment information is received from the customer, both the payment and order are processed.
Solid isotopic reference materials can be shipped immediately after the required documents have been received and the payment has been processed.
The turnaround time for international distributed water references sealed in silver tubes is 1-3 weeks.
If UPW (user provided water) in silver tubes is required, the turnaround time is 1-2 weeks without calibration and 2-4 weeks with calibration. The user's samples should be sent to:

VSMOW reference materials available from RSIL

Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory (RSIL)
U.S. Geological Survey
Mail Stop 431, Room 5B142
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 20192
+1 (703) 648-5894

There is a 20% discount for an order of 10 or more of one reference material.

Prices for Isotopic Reference Materials and Calibration Services

ID #	Description of Material	Amount	Price	Comment	Report of Isotopic Composition
USGS24	graphite	0.8 g	$158	δ¹³C = —16.05 ‰	USGS24
USGS25	ammonium sulfate	> 0.6 g	$297	δ¹⁵N = —30.41 ‰	USGS25
USGS26	ammonium sulfate	> 0.8 g	$297	δ¹⁵N = +53.75 ‰	USGS26
USGS32	potassium nitrate	0.8 g	$344	δ¹⁵N = +180 ‰ δ¹⁸O = ~+25.5 ‰	USGS32
USGS34	potassium nitrate	0.85 g	$344	δ¹⁵N = —1.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = ~—28 ‰	USGS34
USGS35	sodium nitrate	0.6 g	$344	δ¹⁵N = +2.7 ‰ δ¹⁸O = ~+57 ‰	USGS35
USGS37	potassium perchlorate	1 g	$600	δ³⁷Cl = +0.90 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —17.00 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —8.96 ‰	USGS37
USGS38	potassium perchlorate	1 g	$600	δ³⁷Cl = —87.90 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +52.50 ‰ δ¹⁷O = +102.40 ‰	USGS38
USGS39	potassium perchlorate	1 g	$600	δ³⁷Cl = +0.05 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +122.34 ‰ δ¹⁷O = +62.61 ‰	USGS39
USGS40	L-glutamic acid	2 g	$200	δ¹⁵N = —4.52 ‰ δ¹³C = —26.39 ‰	USGS40
USGS41a	L-glutamic acid enriched in ¹³C & ¹⁵N	0.5 g	$150	δ¹⁵N = +47.55 ‰ δ¹³C = +36.55 ‰	USGS41a
USGS41	L-glutamic acid enriched in ¹³C & ¹⁵N	0.5 g	out of stock	δ¹⁵N = +47.57 ‰ δ¹³C = +37.63 ‰	USGS41
USGS42	Tibetan human hair powder (< 100 mesh)	0.5 g	$390	δ²H = —72.9 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +8.56 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +8.05 ‰ δ¹³C = —21.09 ‰ δ³⁴S = +7.84 ‰	USGS42
USGS43	Indian human hair powder (< 60 mesh)	0.5 g	$390	δ²H = —44.4 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +14.11 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +8.44 ‰ δ¹³C = —21.28 ‰ δ³⁴S = +10.46 ‰	USGS43
CBS	Caribou Hoof Standard	0.5 g	$197	δ²H = —157.0 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +3.8 ‰	CBS
KHS	Kudu Horn Standard	0.5 g	$197	δ²H = —35.3 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +20.3 ‰	KHS
USGS44	Merck high purity CaCO₃ Intended for calibration of VPDB carbon-isotope-delta scale. Cost is $50 with exchange of an original vial of LSVEC Li₂CO₃	0.75 g	$180 or $50	δ¹³C = ~ —42.1 ‰	--
USGS45	Set of 16 ampoules having 4 mL of Biscayne Aquifer Drinking Water per ampoule	64 mL	$236	δ²H = —10.3 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —2.238 ‰	USGS45
USGS45	Case of 144 ampoules having 4 mL of Biscayne Aquifer Drinking Water per ampoule	576 mL	$873	δ²H = —10.3 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —2.238 ‰	USGS45
USGS45	Case of 144 ampoules having 5 mL of Biscayne Aquifer Drinking Water per ampoule	720 mL	$1,093	δ²H = —10.3 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —2.238 ‰	USGS45
USGS46	Set of 16 ampoules having 4 mL of Ice Core Water per ampoule	64 mL	$236	δ²H = —235.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —29.80 ‰	USGS46
USGS46	Case of 144 ampoules having 4 mL of Ice Core Water per ampoule	576 mL	$873	δ²H = —235.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —29.80 ‰	USGS46
USGS47	Set of 16 ampoules having 5 mL of Lake Louise Drinking Water per ampoule	80 mL	$248	δ²H = —150.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —19.80 ‰	USGS47
USGS47	Case of 144 ampoules having 5 mL of Lake Louise Drinking Water per ampoule	720 mL	$1,093	δ²H = —150.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —19.80 ‰	USGS47
USGS48	Set of 16 ampoules having 5 mL of Puerto Rico Precipitation per ampoule	80 mL	$248	δ²H = —2.0 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —2.224 ‰	USGS48
USGS48	Case of 144 ampoules having 5 mL of Puerto Rico Precipitation per ampoule	720 mL	$1,093	δ²H = —2.0 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —2.224 ‰	USGS48
USGS49	Set of 16 ampoules having 5 mL of Antarctic Ice-core Water per ampoule	80 mL	$248	δ²H = —394.7 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —50.55 ‰	USGS49
USGS49	Case of 144 ampoules having 5 mL of Antarctic Ice-core Water per ampoule	720 mL	$1,093	δ²H = —394.7 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —50.55 ‰	USGS49
USGS50	Set of 16 ampoules having 5 mL of Lake Kyoga Water per ampoule	80 mL	$248	δ²H = +32.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +4.95 ‰	USGS50
USGS50	Case of 144 ampoules having 5 mL of Lake Kyoga Water per ampoule	720 mL	$1,093	δ²H = +32.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +4.95 ‰	USGS50
USGS51	Nitrous oxide in 6-mm glass tube	~200 μmol	$198	δ¹⁵N = +1.32 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +41.23 ‰	USGS51
USGS52	Nitrous oxide in 6-mm glass tube	~200 μmol	$198	δ¹⁵N = +0.44 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +40.64 ‰	USGS52
USGS53	Case of 32 ampoules having 5 mL of Lake Shala Distilled Water per ampoule	160 mL	$355	δ²H = +40.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +5.47 ‰	USGS53
USGS54	Canadian lodgepole pine wood powder	0.5 g	$340	δ²H = —150.4 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +17.79 ‰ δ¹³C = —24.43 ‰ δ¹⁵N = —2.42 ‰	USGS54
USGS55	Mexican ziricote wood powder	0.5 g	$340	δ²H = —28.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +19.12 ‰ δ¹³C = —27.13 ‰ δ¹⁵N = —0.3 ‰	USGS55
USGS56	South African red ivorywood powder	0.5 g	$340	δ²H = —44.0 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +27.23 ‰ δ¹³C = —24.34 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +1.8 ‰	USGS56
USGS57	biotite	0.5 g	$250	δ²H = —91 ‰	USGS57
USGS58	muscovite	0.5 g	$250	δ²H = —28 ‰	USGS58
USGS61	caffeine	0.5 g	$250	δ²H = +96.9 ‰ δ¹³C = —35.05 ‰ δ¹⁵N = —2.87 ‰	USGS61
USGS62	caffeine	0.5 g	$250	δ²H = —156.1 ‰ δ¹³C = —14.79 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +20.17 ‰	USGS62
USGS63	caffeine	0.5 g	$250	δ²H = +174.5 ‰ δ¹³C = —1.17 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +37.83 ‰	USGS63
USGS64	glycine	0.5 g	$250	δ¹³C = —40.81 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +1.76 ‰	USGS64
USGS65	glycine	0.5 g	$250	δ¹³C = —20.29 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +20.68 ‰	USGS65
USGS66	glycine	0.5 g	$250	δ¹³C = —0.67 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +40.83 ‰	USGS66
USGS67	n-hexadecane	50 μL	$250	δ²H = —166.2 ‰ δ¹³C = —34.50 ‰	USGS67
USGS68	n-hexadecane	50 μL	$250	δ²H = —10.2 ‰ δ¹³C = —10.55 ‰	USGS68
USGS69	n-hexadecane	50 μL	$250	δ²H = +381.4 ‰ δ¹³C = —0.57 ‰	USGS69
USGS70	icosanoic acid methyl ester (C20 FAME)	100 mg	$250	δ²H = —183.9 ‰ δ¹³C = —30.53 ‰	USGS70
USGS71	icosanoic acid methyl ester (C20 FAME)	100 mg	$250	δ²H = —4.9 ‰ δ¹³C = —10.5 ‰	USGS71
USGS72	icosanoic acid methyl ester (C20 FAME)	100 mg	$250	δ²H = +348.3 ‰ δ¹³C = —1.54 ‰	USGS72
USGS73	L-valine	0.5 g	$250	δ¹³C = —24.03 ‰ δ¹⁵N = —5.21 ‰	USGS73
USGS74	L-valine	100 mg	$250	δ¹³C = —9.30 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +30.19 ‰	USGS74
USGS75	L-valine	100 mg	$250	δ¹³C = +0.49 ‰ δ¹⁵N = +61.53 ‰	USGS75
USGS76	methylheptadecanoate	50 μL	$250	δ²H = —210.8 ‰ δ¹³C = —31.36 ‰	USGS76
USGS77	polyethylene powder	1 g	$250	δ²H = —75.9 ‰ δ¹³C = —30.71 ‰	USGS77
NBS 22a	vacuum oil, regular	1 mL	$250	δ²H = —120.4 ‰ δ¹³C = —29.72 ‰	NBS 22a
USGS78	vacuum oil, ²H-enriched	1 mL	$250	δ²H = +397.0 ‰ δ¹³C = —29.72 ‰	USGS78
USGS80	silver phosphate	0.5 g	$310	δ¹⁸O = ~ +13.1 ‰	--
USGS81	silver phosphate	0.5 g	$340	δ¹⁸O = ~ +35.4 ‰	--
GFLES-1	water enriched in ²H	5 mL	$110	δ²H = +80.1 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.25 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	GFLES
GFLES-2	water enriched in ²H	5 mL	$110	δ²H = +159.9 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.21 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	GFLES
GFLES-3	water enriched in ²H	5 mL	$110	δ²H = +280.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.14 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	GFLES
GFLES-4	water enriched in ²H	5 mL	$110	δ²H = +399.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.08 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	GFLES
GFLES-Set	Set of 4 ampoules; 1 each of GFLES-1 through GFLES-4	20 mL	$264	See above values	GFLES
NBS 22a	vacuum oil, regular	1 mL	$250	δ²H = —120.4 ‰ δ¹³C = —29.72 ‰	NBS 22a
VSMOW (original reference water)	Set of 3 ampoules having 5 mL of water per ampoule	15 mL	$580	δ²H = 0 exactly δ¹⁸O = 0 exactly	VSMOW
NBS 22-0.15 μL	oil in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —117.2 ‰ δ¹³C = —30.02 ‰	NBS 22-0.15 μL
NBS 22-0.25 μL	oil in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —117.2 ‰ δ¹³C = —30.02 ‰	NBS 22-0.25 μL
NBS 22a-0.15 μL	oil in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —120.4 ‰ δ¹³C = —29.72 ‰	--
NBS 22a-0.25 μL	oil in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —120.4 ‰ δ¹³C = —29.72 ‰	--
USGS78-0.15 μL	oil in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +397.0 ‰ δ¹³C = —29.72 ‰	--
USGS78-0.25 μL	oil in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +397.0 ‰ δ¹³C = —29.72 ‰	--
VSMOW-0.15 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = 0 exactly δ¹⁸O = 0 exactly	VSMOW-0.15 μL
VSMOW-0.25 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = 0 exactly δ¹⁸O = 0 exactly	VSMOW-0.25 μL
SLAP2-0.15 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —427.5 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —55.5 ‰	SLAP2-0.15 μL
SLAP2-0.25 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —427.5 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —55.5 ‰	SLAP2-0.25 μL
GISP-0.15 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —189.7 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —24.78 ‰	GISP-0.15 μL
GISP-0.25 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —189.7 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —24.78 ‰	GISP-0.25 μL
UC03-0.15 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +68.5 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +29.79 ‰	UC03-0.15 μL
UC03-0.25 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +68.5 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +29.79 ‰	UC03-0.25 μL
UC04-0.15 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +113.6 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +38.95 ‰	UC04-0.15 μL
UC04-0.25 μL	water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +113.6 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +38.95 ‰	UC04-0.25 μL
USGS46-0.15 μL	Ice Core Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —235.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —29.80 ‰	--
USGS46-0.25 μL	Ice Core Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —235.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —29.80 ‰	--
USGS47-0.15 μL	Lake Louise Drinking Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —150.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —19.80 ‰	--
USGS47-0.25 μL	Lake Louise Drinking Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —150.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —19.80 ‰	--
USGS48-0.15 μL	Puerto Rico Precipitation in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —2.0 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —2.224 ‰	--
USGS48-0.25 μL	Puerto Rico Precipitation in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —2.0 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —2.224 ‰	--
USGS49-0.15 μL	Antarctic Ice-core Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —394.7 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —50.55 ‰	--
USGS49-0.25 μL	Antarctic Ice-core Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —394.7 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —50.55 ‰	--
USGS50-0.15 μL	Lake Kyoga Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +32.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +4.95 ‰	--
USGS50-0.25 μL	Lake Kyoga Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +32.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +4.95 ‰	--
USGS53-0.15 μL	Lake Shala Distilled Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +40.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +5.47 ‰	USGS53-0.15 μL
USGS53-0.25 μL	Lake Shala Distilled Water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +40.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = +5.47 ‰	USGS53-0.25 μL
W-62001-0.15 μL	RSIL DI water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = —41.1 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.25 ‰	--
W-62001-0.25 μL	RSIL DI water in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = —41.1 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.25 ‰	--
GFLES-1-0.15 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +80.1 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.25 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	--
GFLES-1-0.25 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +80.1 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.25 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	--
GFLES-2-0.15 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +159.9 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.21 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	--
GFLES-2-0.25 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +159.9 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.21 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	--
GFLES-3-0.15 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +280.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.14 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	--
GFLES-3-0.25 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +280.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.14 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	--
GFLES-4-0.15 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +399.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.08 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	--
GFLES-4-0.25 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +399.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —6.08 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.3 ‰	--
BARREL-2-0.15 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.15 μL each	$120	δ²H = +799.9 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —5.86 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.2 ‰	--
BARREL-2-0.25 μL	water enriched in ²H in silver tube, batch of 50	0.25 μL each	$120	δ²H = +799.9 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —5.86 ‰ δ¹⁷O = —3.2 ‰	--

ID #	Description of Material/Service	Amount	Price	Comment
UPW	user provided water in silver tube	--	Contact RSIL	--
UPL	user provided liquid in silver tube	--	Contact RSIL	--
Cal-δ²H	calibration of user provided water for δ²H relative to VSMOW-SLAP	--	$1180	--
Cal-δ¹⁸O	calibration of user provided water for δ¹⁸O relative to VSMOW-SLAP	--	$1180	--
Cal-solid	On request	--	Contact RSIL	--
W-64444-S	Set of 8 ampoules having 7 mL of water per ampoule	56 mL	$98	δ²H = —399.1 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —51.14 ‰
W-67400-S	Set of 8 ampoules having 7 mL of water per ampoule	56 mL	$98	δ²H = +1.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —1.97 ‰
W-43156	Water, 40 mL in glass ampoule	40 mL	$55	δ²H = —112.8 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —14.42 ‰
W-32593	Water, 40 mL in glass ampoule	40 mL	$55	δ²H = —55.2 ‰ δ¹⁸O = —8.68 ‰
W-133887	Water, D2O with relatively low δ¹⁸O	10 mL	$200	D2O = 99.8 % δ¹⁸O = +62 ‰
LIMS	LIMS database modification requests	--	$175/hr	--
Other	On request	--	Contact RSIL	--

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