Researchers interested in accessing PCIGR can contact us for details. When you are ready to submit samples to us, please refer to the Request Services page for instructions.
User fees are in Canadian dollars for Canadian institutions - for non-Canadian institutions, please contact Dr. Weis (dweis@mail.ubc.ca).
Technician Time (labour fee)*
| NSERC/Canadian Academic | Canadian Government | Others (Industry) | |
| Instrument set up and tuning: solution (per hour) | $75 | $115 | $150 |
| Instrument set up and tuning: laser (per hour) | $120 | $180 | $240 |
* 1.5 hours for solution, 2 hours for laser are the set-up times per every 24-hour interval. Any extra time will be charged at the respective gas rate charge.
Elemental Concentration (HR-SF-ICP-MS, Q-ICP-MS)*
Elemental concentration analyses and in-situ compositions
| NSERC/Canadian Academic | Canadian Government | Others (Industry) | |
| Element 2/AttoM HR-SF-ICP-MS** (per hour) | $75 | $115 | $150 |
| Agilent 7700x/8900 quad ICP-MS** (per hour) | $65 | $100 | $130 |
| All trace elements*** | $130 | $195 | $260 |
| Laser ablation* (per hour) | $120 | $180 | $240 |
| Split-stream between 2 ICP-MS* (per hour) | $135 | $200 | $270 |
* A minimum of 8 hours will be charged. Contact us for a daily rate.
** For special sample introduction system/interface such as Aridus applications, contact us for instrument availability and additional charges.
*** Common rock/mineral separate samples/trace element analysis can be charged on a per-sample basis. Per-sample fee includes sample digestion and preparation (no high-pressure digestion). Extra fees apply for samples needing high-pressure digestion. Refer to Sample Preparation section below.
Due to the complexity of rock samples, we reserve the right to add an extra fee for samples that require extensive extra work in sample preparation and analysis.
For organic material or waters, analyses may be charged per hour for both sample preparation and analysis.
Light Stable IRMS and Elemental Concentrations (EA)
C, N, O isotopic compositions; C, N concentrations*
Please note: We are unable to accept enriched-isotope samples at this time.
| NSERC/Canadian Academic | Canadian Government | Others (Industry) | |
| δ15N, δ13C, %C, %N of solid samples | $15 | $22.50 | $30 |
| δ15N, δ13C, %C, %N of difficult samples (sediments, soils, filters)** | $20 | $27.50 | $35 |
| Elemental composition only** | $10 | $17.50 | $25 |
| Prep in our facility, per sample | $4.85 | $4.85 | $5.50 |
* Extra fees apply for elemental or isotopic sample preparation, where needed; see Sample Preparation section below.
** Added costs on top of analysis costs for samples that reduce the lifespan of EA columns (e.g., samples with salt content or acid residue)
Please note: C and O analysis of carbonate materials is temporarily unavailable as we renovate the lab.
TIMS
Radiogenic Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions* (New pricing effective January 1, 2025)
| NSERC/Canadian Academic | Canadian Government | Others (Industry) | |
| Sr isotopic analysis | $230 | $345 | $460 |
| Sr isotopic analysis + Rb-Sr concentration | $300 | $450 | $600 |
| Nd isotopic analysis | $290 | $435 | $580 |
| Nd isotopic analysis + Sm-Nd concentration | $330 | $495 | $660 |
| Pb isotopes (galena) | $100 | $150 | $220 |
| Pb isotopes (feldspar and sulphide) | $200 | $250 | $300 |
* Extra fees apply for mineral separation, where needed; see Sample Preparation section below.
Geochronology
| NSERC/Canadian Academic | Canadian Government | Others (Industry) | |
| U-Pb ID-TIMS* (New pricing effective January 1, 2025) | |||
| Zircon: Chemical Abrasion (CA-TIMS) and/or accessory minerals (minimum 6 analyses) | $1,800 | $2,700 | $3,600 |
| U-Pb Laser Ablation | |||
| Detrital zircon (minimum 60 grains) | $1,200 | $1,800 | $2,400 |
| Igneous zircon (minimum 16 analyses) | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 |
| Lu-Hf ID-MC-ICP-MS | |||
| Garnet, apatite | $2,250 | $3,400 | $4,500 |
* Fees for U-Pb geochronology include mineral separation and sample preparation. The cost of mineral separation will still be charged in case of no recovery. See Sample Preparation section below.
* U-Pb geochronology turn-around time is 4 months when 5 or fewer samples are submitted; rush status is 2 months. Contact us for turn-around times for submissions of more than 5 samples.
MC-ICP-MS
Radiogenic isotopic compositions (New pricing effective January 1, 2025)
| NSERC/Canadian Academic | Canadian Government | Others (Industry) | |
| Nd isotopic analysis | $290 | $435 | $580 |
| Hf isotopic analysis | $310 | $465 | $620 |
| Hf isotopic analysis + Lu-Hf concentration | $350 | $525 | $700 |
| Zircon Hf isotopic analysis | $210 | $315 | $420 |
| Pb isotopic analysis | $200 | $250 | $300 |
Contact us for combined analyses on the same dissolution.
MC-ICP-MS
Heavy/transitional metal stable isotope analyses
| NSERC/Canadian Academic | Canadian Government | Others (Industry) | |
| Si, Fe, Cu, Mg, Mo, Cd, Li isotopes (per day) | $1,000 | ^ | ^ |
^ Heavy/transitional metal stable isotope analyses are not offered on a commercial basis.
Sample Preparation*
| NSERC/Canadian Academic | Canadian Government | Others (Industry) | |
| Rock crushing for trace element, isotopic or radiogenic studies | $180 | $270 | $360 |
| Leaching for radiogenic isotope analysis | $105 | $160 | $220 |
| High-pressure (bomb) dissolution | $165 | $245 | $330 |
| Microwave dissolution | $30 | $45 | $60 |
| Mineral separation for U-Pb geochronology | $350 | $525 | $700 |
| Sample crushing for EA, or EA-IRMS (mortar and pestle) | $7 | $7 | $10 |
| Sample acidification for EA or EA-IRMS | $2 | $2 | $3 |
| Sample encapsulation for EA or EA-IRMS | $7 | $7 | $10 |
* Available only for samples analyzed at PCIGR.