The Light Element Analysis Laboratory (LEAL) is capable of measuring the abundance of the light stable isotopes of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon. The laboratory is primarily focused on triple oxygen isotope analysis on solids and water samples smaller than 40 micromoles. The LEAL is equipped with a Thermo Electron MAT 253 stable isotope mass spectrometer coupled to a lab-built semi-automated laser fluorination system with GC purification. The laser fluorination system allows LEAL to conduct high precision triple oxygen isotope analysis on most minerals including silicates, sulfates, oxides and other phases. In addition to the laser fluorination system, the MAT 253 in LEAL is also coupled to a CoF3 based water fluorination system allowing for oxygen isotope analysis of water. The isotope facilities also include a Thermo Electron Gas Bench II interface and sample preparation device equipped to extract and analyze carbonate, bicarbonate and, water samples for either oxygen or hydrogen isotopes in continuous flow mode with the capability of analyzing 20 µg quantities of carbonate.

Inside the Light Element Analysis Laboratory: NASA scientists Justin Hayles and Paul Niles fluorinate sample for oxygen isotope analysis with a Thermo Electron gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS).