YIBS: Earth Systems Center for Stable Isotopic Studies
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Yale Bulldog Logo Isotopic Standards
A handy reference contained in sortable tables
Disclaimer: Last updated 21 August 2009.  Be sure to actually check the CIAAW website, IAEA website, or NIST website for the latest values!

Click on the header to sort a column on that value.
Blue-highlighted standards are those available in the lab as of the last update.
Red-highlighted standards are out-of-date values.
Blue lines are in-house standards, not commercially available.

Tables by Element
Carbon Nitrogen
Oxygen SulfurHydrogen
Special Tables
Combined Chart
Links


Carbon
Name NIST
RM #
Composition/Notes δ13CVPDB Ref
CO2-Biogenic
8564 carbon dioxide, modern biomass -10.45 ‰ 2
CO2-Heavy
8562 carbon dioxide, paleomarine -3.72 ‰ 2
CO2-Light 8563 carbon dioxide, petrochemical -41.59 ‰ 2
House SNS Cocoapowdered baking cocoa-28.42 ‰-
IAEA-303-Alabeled sodium bicarbonate+93.3 ‰4
IAEA-303-Blabeled sodium bicarbonate+466 ‰4
IAEA-600 caffeine -27.77 ‰ 2
IAEA-601 benzoic acid -28.81 ‰ 2
IAEA-602 benzoic acid -28.85 ‰ 2
IAEA-C-1marble (14C standard)+2.4 ‰5
IAEA-C-2travertine (14C standard)-8.3 ‰5
IAEA-C-3cellulose (14C standard)-24.9 ‰5
IAEA-C-4sub-fossil wood (14C standard)-24.0 ‰5
IAEA-C-5sub-fossil wood (14C standard)-25.5 ‰5
IAEA-C-6sucrose (14C standard)-10.8 ‰5
IAEA-C-7oxalic acid (14C standard)-14.5 ‰6
IAEA-C-8oxalic acid (14C standard)-18.3 ‰6
IAEA-C-9sub-fossil wood (14C standard)-23.9 ‰7
IAEA-CH-3 cellulose -24.72 ‰ 2
IAEA-CH-6 8542 sucrose -10.45 ‰ 2
IAEA-CH-7 8540 polyethylene foil -32.15 ‰ 2
IAEA-CH-78540polyethylene foil (pre-2006)-31.8 ‰9
IAEA-CO-1 calcium carbonate +2.49 ‰ 2
IAEA-CO-8 calcium carbonate -5.76 ‰ 2
IAEA-CO-9 barium carbonate -47.32 ‰ 2
LSVEC * 8545 lithium carbonate -46.6 ‰ 2
NBS 18 8543 carbonatite -5.01 ‰ 2
NBS 19 * 8544 limestone +1.95 ‰ 3
NBS 22 8539 oil -30.03 ‰ 2
NBS 228539oil (pre-2006)-29.7 ‰9
NGS 1 8559 natural gas (coal, CH4) -29.0 ‰ 1
NGS 2 8560 natural gas (petroleum, CH4) -44.5 ‰ 1
NGS 3 8561 natural gas (biogenic, CH4) -72.8 ‰ 1
USGS 24 8541 graphite -16.05 ‰ 2
USGS 40 8573 L-glutamic acid -26.39 ‰ 2
USGS 41 8574 L-glutamic acid +37.63 ‰ 2
UWG-2Garnet, Gore Mountain+5.78 ‰8

* Defines the scale

References:
1. Hut, G., Consultants' group meeting on stable isotope reference samples for geochemical and hydrological investigations, Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, 42 p (1987).
2. Coplen, T.B., Brand, W.A., Gehre, M., Gröning, M., Meijer, H. A. J., Toman, B, and Verkouteren, R. M., New guidelines for δ13C measurements, Anal. Chem., 78, 2439-2441 (2006).
3. Gonfiantini, R., 1984, Advisory group meeting on stable isotope reference samples for geochemical and hydrological investigations, IAEA, Vienna, 19-21 September 1983, Report to the Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency, 77 p.
4. Parr R.M., Clements S.A. (1991): Intercomparison of enriched stable isotope reference materials for medical and biological studies, IAEA Report NAHRES-5, International Atomic Energy Agency, 31 pp.
5. Rozanski, K., Stichler, W., Gonfiantini, R., Scott, E.M., Beukens, R.P., Kromer, B., van der Plicht, J. (1992): The IAEA 14C Intercomparison exercise 1990. Radiocarbon, vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 506 519.
6. le Clercq, M., van der Plicht, J, Gröning, M. (1998): New 14C reference materials with activities of 15 and 50 pMC. Proceedings of the 16th International 14C Conference. W.G. Mook, J. van der Plicht (eds.), Radiocarbon, vol. 40, No. 1, 1998, pp. 295 279.
7. Scott, E.M., The fourth international radiocarbon intercomparison (FIRI). Radiocarbon, Vol 45, No. 2, 2003, 135-292
8. Valley, J.W., Kitchen, N., Kohn, M.J., Niendorf, C.R., Spicuzza, M.J., 1995. UWG-2, a garnet standard for oxygen isotope ratios: strategies for high precision and accuracy with laser heating. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 59, 5223– 5231.
9. NIST Standard Reference Materials Catalog, 1998-99.  Trahey, N.M., editor.  January 1998.

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Nitrogen
Name NIST
RM #
Composition/Notes δ15NAIR Ref
House SNS Cocoapowdered baking cocoa+5.24 ‰-
IAEA-305-Alabeled ammonium sulfate+39.8 ‰4
IAEA-305-Blabeled ammonium sulfate+375.3 ‰4
IAEA-310-Alabeled urea+47.2 ‰4
IAEA-310-Blabeled urea+244.6 ‰4
IAEA-311labeled ammonium sulfate+2.05 ‰4
IAEA-N-1 * 8547 ammonium sulfate +0.43 ‰ 1
IAEA-N-2 8548 ammonium sulfate +20.41 ‰ 1
IAEA-NO-3 8549 potassium nitrate +4.72 ‰ 1
NBS 14gaseous nitrogen-1.18 ‰5
NSVEC 8552 gaseous nitrogen -2.78 ‰ 1
USGS 25 8550 ammonium sulfate -30.41 ‰ 1
USGS 26 8551 ammonium sulfate +53.70 ‰ 1
USGS 32 * 8558 potassium nitrate +180 ‰ 1
USGS 34 8568 potassium nitrate -1.8 ‰ 2
USGS 35 8569 sodium nitrate +2.7 ‰ 2
USGS 40 8573 L-glutamic acid -4.52 ‰ 3
USGS 41 8574 L-glutamic acid +47.57 ‰ 3

* Defines the scale (interim consensus)

References:
1. Böhlke, J.K., and Coplen, T.B., Interlaboratory comparison of reference materials for nitrogen-isotope-ratio measurements, in Reference and intercomparison materials for stable isotopes of light elements: Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA-TECDOC-825, 51-66 (1995).
2. Böhlke, J.K., Mroczkowski, S. J., and Coplen, T. B., Oxygen isotopes in nitrate: new reference materials for 18O:17O:16O measurements and observations on nitrate-water equilibration, Rapid Comm. Mass Spectrom., 17, 1835-1846 (2003).
3. Qi, H., Coplen, T.B., Geilmann, H., Brand, W. A., and Böhlke, J.K., Two new organic reference materials for δ13C and δ15N measurements and a new value for the δ13C of NBS 22 oil: Rapid Comm. Mass Spectrom., 17, 2483-2487 (2003).
4. Parr R.M., Clements S.A. (1991): Intercomparison of enriched stable isotope reference materials for medical and biological studies, IAEA Report NAHRES-5, International Atomic Energy Agency, 31 pp
5. "Principles of Stable Isotope Geochemistry" 2007, Appendix A.


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Oxygen
Name NIST
RM #
Composition/Notes δ18OVSMOW Ref
CO2-Biogenic
Modern Biomass
8564 CO2 +20.52 ‰ 5
CO2-Heavy
Paleomarine
8562 CO2 +11.86 ‰ 5
CO2-Light
Petrochemical
8563 CO2 -3.64 ‰ 5
DH-3distilled heavy water+6.60 ‰-
DI-3distilled medium water-4.85 ‰-
DL-3distilled light water-13.76 ‰-
EldEldorado bottled water-13.6 ‰-
Florida phosphate120ccarbonate fluorapatite+21.00 ‰6
Fiji-3Fiji bottled water-4.36 ‰-
 GISP 8536 water -24.8 ‰ 2
Heavy Evap-3bath-evaporated water+6.32 ‰-
IAEA-CO-9 barium carbonate +15.04 ‰ 5
IAEA-NO-3 8549 potassium nitrate +25.6 ‰ 4
IAEA-SO-5 barium sulfate (wet) +12.0 ‰ 4
IAEA-SO-6 barium sulfate (wet) -11.3 ‰ 4
ID-3Idaho water-16.40 ‰-
LSVEC 8545 lithium carbonate +3.69 ‰ 5
NBS 18 8543 carbonatite +7.20 ‰ 5
NBS 19 8544 limestone +28.65 ‰ 5
NBS 28 8546 silica sand (optical) +9.58 ‰ 2
NBS 30 8538 biotite +5.1 ‰ 3
NBS 127 8557 barium sulfate +8.6 ‰ 4
SLAP * 8537 water -55.5 ‰ 1
TX-3Texas water-0.82 ‰-
USGS 32 8558 potassium nitrate +25.7 ‰ 4
USGS 34 8568 potassium nitrate -27.9 ‰ 4
USGS 35 8569 sodium nitrate +57.5 ‰ 4
VSMOW * 8535 water 0.0 ‰ 1
Western phosphate694carbonate fluorapatite+13.00 ‰6

* Defines the scale

References:

1. Gonfiantini, R., Standards for stable isotope measurements in natural compounds, Nature, 271, 534-536 (1978).
2. Gonfiantini, R., Stichler, W., and Rozanski, K., Standards and intercomparison materials distributed by the International Atomic Energy Agency for stable isotope measurements, in Reference and intercomparison materials for stable isotopes of light elements, Vienna, Austria, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA-TECDOC-825, 13-29 (1995).
3. Coplen, T. B., Kendall, C., and Hopple, J., Intercomparison of stable isotope reference samples, Nature, 302, 236-238 (1983).
4. Böhlke, J. K., Mroczkowski, S. J., and Coplen, T. B., Oxygen isotopes in nitrate: new reference materials for 18O:17O:16O measurements and observations on nitrate-water equilibration, Rapid Comm. Mass Spectrom., 17, 1835-1846 (2003).
5. Calculated from data in ref (14) and the relation between VPDB and VSMOW given on page 36 of reference (12).

6. Holmden, C., Papanastassiou, D.A., Wasserburg, G.J., Negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry of oxygen in phosphates. Lunar and Planetary Science XXVIII.

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Hydrogen
Name NIST
RM #
Composition/Notes δ2HVSMOW Ref
DH-3distilled heavy water+24.3 ‰-
DL-3distilled light water-81.3 ‰-
EldEldorado bottled water-106.4 ‰-
Fiji-3Fiji bottled water-40.1 ‰-
GISP 8536 water -190 ‰ 2
Heavy Evap-3bath-evaporated water0.26 ‰-
IAEA-CH-7 8540 polyethylene foil -100 ‰ 2
ID-3Idaho water-133.7 ‰-
NBS 22 8539 oil -118 ‰ 3
NBS 30 8538 biotite -66 ‰ 2
NGS 1 8559 natural gas (coal, CH4) -138 ‰ 3
NGS 2 8560 natural gas (petroleum, CH4) -173 ‰ 3
NGS 2 8560 natural gas (petroleum, C2H6) -121 ‰ 3
NGS 3 8561 natural gas (biogenic, CH4) -176 ‰ 3
SLAP * 8537 water -428 ‰ 1
TX-3Texas water-20.0 ‰-
VSMOW * 8535 water 0.0 ‰ 1

* Defines the scale

References:

1. Gonfiantini, R., Standards for stable isotope measurements in natural compounds, Nature, 271, 534-536 (1978).
2. Gonfiantini, R., Stichler, W., and Rozanski, K., Standards and intercomparison materials distributed by the International Atomic Energy Agency for stable isotope measurements, in Reference and intercomparison materials for stable isotopes of light elements, Vienna, Austria, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA-TECDOC-825, 13-29 (1995).
3. Hut, G., Consultants' group meeting on stable isotope reference samples for geochemical and hydrological investigations, Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, 42 p (1987).


(top)
Sulfur
Name NIST
RM #
Composition/Notes δ34SVCDT Ref
IAEA-S-1 * 8554 silver sulfide (NZ-1) -0.3 ‰ 2
IAEA-S-2 8555 silver sulfide (NZ-1) +22.67 ‰ 3
IAEA-S-3 silver sulfide -32.55 ‰ 3
IAEA-S-4
Soufre de Laq
8553 elemetal sulfur +16.90 ‰ 1
IAEA-SO-5 barium sulfate (wet) +0.49 ‰ 3
IAEA-SO-6 barium sulfate (wet) -34.05 ‰ 3
NBS 123 8556 sphalerite +17.44 ‰ 4
NBS 127 8557 barium sulfate +21.1 ‰ 3

* Defines the scale

References:

1. Qi, H.P., and Coplen, Tyler B., Evaluation of the 34S/32S ratio of Soufre de Lacq elemental sulfur isotopic reference material by continuous flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry, Chem. Geol., 199, 183-187 (2003).
2. Robinson, B.W., Sulphur isotope standards, in Reference and intercomparison materials for stable isotopes of light elements, Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA-TECDOC-825, 39-45 (1995).
3. Coplen, T.B., Hopple, J.A., Böhlke, J.K., Peiser, H.S., Rieder, S.E., Krouse, H.R., Rosman, K.J.R., Ding, T., Vocke, Jr., R.D., Révész, K.M., Lamberty, A., Taylor, P., and De Bièvre, P., Compilation of minimum and maximum isotope ratios of selected elements in naturally occurring terrestrial materials and reagents, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 01-4222, 98 p (2001).
4. Zhang, Q.L. (Chang, T.L.) and Ding, T., 1989, Analysis of the reference material NBS‑123 and the atomic weight of sulfur,  Chinese Sci. Bull., 34, 1086-1089 (1989).


(top)
Combined Chart
Name NIST
RM #
δ13CVPDB δ18OVSMOW δ15NAIR δ2HVSMOW δ34SVCDT
CO2-Biogenic
8564 -10.45 ‰ +20.52 ‰
CO2-Heavy
8562 -3.72 ‰ +11.86 ‰
CO2-Light
8563 -41.59 ‰ -3.64 ‰
DH
+6.60 ‰+24.3 ‰
DI
-4.85 ‰
DL
-13.76 ‰-81.3 ‰
Eld
-13.6 ‰-106.4 ‰
Florida Phosphate120c+21.00 ‰
Fiji-3
-4.36 ‰-40.1 ‰
GISP 8536 -24.8 ‰ -190 ‰
Heavy Evap-3
+6.32 ‰+0.26 ‰
House SNS Cocoa-28.42 ‰+5.24 ‰
IAEA-303-A+93.3 ‰
IAEA-303-B+466 ‰
IAEA-305-A+39.8 ‰
IAEA-305-B+375.3 ‰
IAEA-310-A+47.2 ‰
IAEA-310-B+244.6 ‰
IAEA-311+2.05 ‰
IAEA-600 -27.77 ‰
IAEA-601 -28.81 ‰
IAEA-602 -28.85 ‰
IAEA-C-1+2.4 ‰
IAEA-C-2-8.3 ‰
IAEA-C-3-24.9 ‰
IAEA-C-4-24.0 ‰
IAEA-C-5-25.5 ‰
IAEA-C-6-10.8 ‰
IAEA-C-7-14.5 ‰
IAEA-C-8-18.3 ‰
IAEA-C-9-23.9 ‰
IAEA-CH-3 -24.72 ‰
IAEA-CH-6 8542 -10.45 ‰
IAEA-CH-7 8540 -32.15 ‰ -100 ‰
IAEA-CO-1 +2.49 ‰
IAEA-CO-8 -5.76 ‰
IAEA-CO-9 -47.32 ‰ +15.04 ‰
IAEA-N-1 8547 +0.43 ‰
IAEA-N-2 8548 +20.41 ‰
IAEA-NO-3 8549 +25.6 ‰ +4.72 ‰
IAEA-S-1 8554 -0.3 ‰
IAEA-S-2 8555 +22.67 ‰
IAEA-S-3 -32.55 ‰
IAEA-S-4 8553 +16.90 ‰
IAEA-SO-5 +12.0 ‰ +0.49 ‰
IAEA-SO-6 -11.3 ‰ -34.05 ‰
ID-3
-16.40 ‰-133.7 ‰
LSVEC 8545 -46.6 ‰ +3.69 ‰
NBS 14-1.18 ‰
NBS 18 8543 -5.01 ‰ +7.20 ‰
NBS 19 8544 +1.95 ‰ +28.65 ‰
NBS 22 8539 -30.03 ‰ -118 ‰
NBS 28 8546 +9.58 ‰
NBS 30 8538 +5.1 ‰ -66 ‰
NBS 123 8556 +17.44 ‰
NBS 127 8557 +8.6 ‰ +21.1 ‰
NGS 1 8559 -29.0 ‰ -138 ‰
NGS 2 (CH4) 8560 -44.5 ‰ -173 ‰
NGS 2 (C2H6) 8560 -121 ‰
NGS 3 8561 -72.8 ‰ -176 ‰
NSVEC 8552 -2.78 ‰
SLAP 8537 -55.5 ‰ -428 ‰
TX-3
-0.82 ‰-20.0 ‰
USGS 24 8541 -16.05 ‰
USGS 25 8550 -30.41 ‰
USGS 26 8551 +53.70 ‰
USGS 32 8558 +25.7 ‰ +180 ‰
USGS 34 8568 -27.9 ‰ -1.8 ‰
USGS 35 8569 +57.5 ‰ +2.7 ‰
USGS 40 8573 -26.39 ‰ -4.52 ‰
USGS 41 8574 +37.63 ‰ +47.57 ‰
UWG-2+5.78 ‰
VSMOW 8535 0.0 ‰ 0.0 ‰
Western Phosphate694+13.00 ‰

This chart is simply a combination of each elemental chart above.  Check the above charts for information on the actual material composition of each standard and for the references for each value.

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Links
Some other standard values that may be of interest:

Isotope reference materials available from Indiana University


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