oxygen-18

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oxygen-18

isotope

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July 1, 2026

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Oxygen-18 (¹⁸O) is a stable isotope of oxygen, meaning it has a greater mass number than the most common isotope, oxygen-16 (¹⁶O). Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. While oxygen typically has an atomic weight of 15.9994, ¹⁸O has a higher atomic mass.12

The ratio of ¹⁸O to ¹⁶O in natural materials can vary due to processes like evaporation and metabolic activity. Scientists use these variations, for example, by examining oxygen isotopes in polar ice and fossil shells, to understand past climate conditions.3

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mass spectrometry
Geochronology and geochemistry
… crust is generally richer in oxygen-18 (¹⁸O) than is the mantle, as a result of the reaction of these upper-layer rocks with the hydrosphere and atmosphere. This fact allows oxygen-18 to be used to assess the degree to which ascending magmas have incorporated crustal rocks as they rise to the…
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… crust is generally richer in oxygen-18 (¹⁸O) than is the mantle, as a result of the reaction of these upper-layer rocks with the hydrosphere and atmosphere. This fact allows oxygen-18 to be used to assess the degree to which ascending magmas have incorporated crustal rocks as they rise to the…
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glacier
Information from deep cores
…oxygen isotopes—namely, the ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16. Oxygen-16 is the dominant isotope, making up more than 99 percent of all natural oxygen; oxygen-18 makes up 0.2 percent. However, the exact concentration of oxygen-18 in precipitation, particularly at high latitudes, depends on the temperature. Winter snow has a smaller oxygen-18–oxygen-16…
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…oxygen isotopes—namely, the ratio of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16. Oxygen-16 is the dominant isotope, making up more than 99 percent of all natural oxygen; oxygen-18 makes up 0.2 percent. However, the exact concentration of oxygen-18 in precipitation, particularly at high latitudes, depends on the temperature. Winter snow has a smaller oxygen-18–oxygen-16…
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isotopic fractionation
During this precipitation oxygen-18 is enriched by a factor of 2.5 percent relative to the lighter, more common isotope oxygen-16; the fractionation factor depends on the temperature and, consequently, can be used as a means of determining the temperature of the water in which the precipitation occurs. This…
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During this precipitation oxygen-18 is enriched by a factor of 2.5 percent relative to the lighter, more common isotope oxygen-16; the fractionation factor depends on the temperature and, consequently, can be used as a means of determining the temperature of the water in which the precipitation occurs. This…
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Quaternary
Sea-level changes
0375 percent), and ¹⁸O (0.1995 percent). Oxygen is found in all organisms and many minerals, including the aragonite and calcite that make up the shells of marine microfossils such as foraminifera. Oxygen isotopes are useful for geologic studies because the rate of uptake of the different isotopes by…
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0375 percent), and ¹⁸O (0.1995 percent). Oxygen is found in all organisms and many minerals, including the aragonite and calcite that make up the shells of marine microfossils such as foraminifera. Oxygen isotopes are useful for geologic studies because the rate of uptake of the different isotopes by…
Read More