Canadian Centre for Isotopic Microanalysis

Welcome to the Canadian Centre for Isotopic Microanalysis (CCIM). Our aim is to provide Canadian and international researchers in academia, government, and industry with access to leading-edge instrumentation and research expertise in geochemistry and geochronology.  CCIM is dedicated principally to research on mineral and energy resources. Our team of dedicated academics and technical staff is here to collaborate with researchers, both professionals and students, from across Canada and internationally to address questions of high scientific and societal impactWe utilize unique analytical instruments and lab facilities, and develop special techniques to analyse the smallest ('micro') quantities of minerals for a range of isotopes.  Isotopes are powerful tracers of geological processes and history, and CCIM is here to unlock their potential in your rocks and minerals.  

Established in 2008 as a University of Alberta academic centre through amalgamation of existing and planned isotope facilities, CCIM has since attracted over $28M in infrastructure investments from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Alberta Innovates (AI), the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) program, and the University of Alberta. CCIM encompasses 315 mof state-of-the- art clean room laboratories and 430 m2 of instrument space, housing Canada's only multi-collector high resolution ion microprobe, six inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometers (including multicollector types), one solid state and two gas (excimer) UV laser systems, and six thermal ionization mass spectrometers, including the only multi-ion counting TIMS in Canada.  The Centre is also supported by extensive sample preparation and characterization facilities and machine shops.