The National Facility of Stable Isotope Geochemistry (NAFSIG) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur was set up in April 2004. The specific goal of this facility was to provide stable isotope data to researchers especially from Universities and to undertake Isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) based programmes on certain challenging areas of Earth and Environmental sciences. Initially funded by the DST, the facility was later augmented with the help of a Diamond Jubilee grant of IIT Kharagpur.

The IIT facility is equipped with three mass spectrometers, two continuous flow and one dual inlet along with several peripheral equipment like Gas bench, Elemental analyser, TC-EA, GC coupled with IRMS, laser ablation silicate and carbonate analytical lines capable of analyzing different types of geological materials including water, carbonate, sulphide/sulphate, organic matter, graphite, clay, and silicates. This is the first stable isotope national facility in a university earth science department in India.

Over the last 12 years, researchers from various universities and institutions have carried out experiments in the facility and published high quality research publications. A large number of students (M.Sc, M.Tech. and Ph.D) have also been trained on stable isotope experiments and applications in various facets of earth sciences. Some of the major programmes of the facility are isotope hydrology of rain and groundwater, evolution of the Himalayan foreland and Ganges delta, coal basins of western India, and archaeological investigation in Indus Valley Civilization.

Contact: Prof. Anindya Sarkar anindya@gg.iitkgp.ac.in; Prof. M K Bera melinda@gg.iitkgp.ac.in