Analysis of the Nd isotope composition

The 144Nd/143Nd ratio displays extremely narrow variations, so the epsilon-Nd value is widely used to identify variations in rocks. Materials formed in the Earth"s mantle have ​​high values, with a maximum near +15 today, while crustal materials can display negative values down to -10.

The combination of epsilon-Nd and Sr data is a powerful tool for isotope geochemistry studies in geological materials, reflecting their origin and sometimes enabling quantification of the proportion of different materials that have contributed to their genesis.

Nd isotope ratios, when suitably variable, are used in dating metamorphic and magmatic rocks by internal isochrons, based on cogenetic minerals, and can provide useful information in petrological and metal ores studies.