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Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California
Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California
Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California
Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

A mass spectrometer is used to measure the ratio of atoms with different masses—in this case, the different isotopes of argon gas, which can be used to determine the age of a volcanic rock. Left: a side view of a mass spectrometer at the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Moffett Field, CA. Right: a close-up view of the sample chamber in this mass spectrometer.

By
Volcano Science Center, California Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

A mass spectrometer is used to measure the ratio of atoms with different masses—in this case, the different isotopes of argon gas, which can be used to determine the age of a volcanic rock. Left: a side view of a mass spectrometer at the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Moffett Field, CA. Right: a close-up view of the sample chamber in this mass spectrometer.

By
Volcano Science Center, California Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory

Science and Products

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California
Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California
Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California
Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

A mass spectrometer is used to measure the ratio of atoms with different masses—in this case, the different isotopes of argon gas, which can be used to determine the age of a volcanic rock. Left: a side view of a mass spectrometer at the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Moffett Field, CA. Right: a close-up view of the sample chamber in this mass spectrometer.

By
Volcano Science Center, California Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

Mass spectrometer, used to measure the ration of atoms with different masses, in the USGS laboratory at Moffett Field, California

A mass spectrometer is used to measure the ratio of atoms with different masses—in this case, the different isotopes of argon gas, which can be used to determine the age of a volcanic rock. Left: a side view of a mass spectrometer at the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Moffett Field, CA. Right: a close-up view of the sample chamber in this mass spectrometer.

By
Volcano Science Center, California Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
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