Fluid inclusions are microscopic vacuoles in crystals trapping minute amounts of palaeowater from which e.g. dripstones formed. Determining the stable isotopic composition of inclusion water is a major challenge and only a handful of laboratories worldwide have such capabilities.
Our system consists of a custom-made crushing cell and a cryo-focusing device interfaced with TC/EA and a ThermoFisher Delta V Advantage mass spectrometer. Operated in continuous-flow mode this setup allows to perform dual measurements of the hydrogen and oxygen isotope values of sub-microlitre quantities of water released from inclusions. For a detailed description of the Innsbruck system refer to Dubylansky & Spötl (2009).
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