Lead isotope triple plot
Definition
A graphical display of 207Pb/204Pb against 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb against 206Pb/204Pb. Different ore deposits fall in distinct clusters on these plots, and an unknown sample can be attributed to a source region by where it plots relative to the reference data.
Related terms
- 87Sr/86Sr ratio
- The ratio of radiogenic strontium-87 (produced by decay of rubidium-87) to the stable reference isotope strontium-86. Values range from roughly 0.703 in...
- Isoscape
- A map of isotope ratio variation across a geographic area, derived from systematic sampling of soil, water, plant, or mineral material; used...
- Mixing model
- A mathematical framework for reconstructing the proportions of two or more isotopically distinct source materials in a mixture. Required whenever a forensic...
- Radiogenic ingrowth
- The progressive increase in a daughter isotope such as 87Sr over geological time as the parent nuclide (87Rb) decays. Materials with higher...
- Strontium isoscape
- A map of 87Sr/86Sr values across a defined geographic area, built from measurements of soil, plants, or water. Used to compare the...
Explained in
- Strontium and Lead Isotopes in GeoforensicsA graphical display of 207Pb/204Pb against 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb against 206Pb/204Pb. Different ore deposits fall in distinct clusters on these plots, an...