Nd143Nd144

Nd143Nd144 refers to a isotopic composition of the element Neodymium, specifically a pair of isotopes, Neodymium-143 and Neodymium-144. Neodymium (Nd) is a chemical element with the symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a soft, silvery-white metal that belongs to the lanthanide series. Naturally occurring neodymium is a mixture of seven stable isotopes: Nd-142, Nd-143, Nd-144, Nd-145, Nd-146, Nd-148, and Nd-150.

Nd-143 is a stable isotope and has a natural abundance of approximately 12.18%. Nd-144 is also a stable isotope and is the most abundant naturally occurring isotope of neodymium, making up about 23.84% of the total. The combination and relative abundance of these isotopes are significant in various scientific fields.

In geochemistry and geochronology, neodymium isotope ratios, including those involving Nd-143 and Nd-144, are used as tracers to understand geological processes, the age of rocks, and the origin of magmas. The decay of Nd-143 from its parent isotope Samarium-149 (Sm-149) is not a primary geochronological tool as Sm-149 is not a geologically significant isotope. However, the Sm-Nd isotopic system, which utilizes the decay of Samarium-147 (Sm-147) to Neodymium-143 (Nd-143), is widely employed. The ratio of Nd-143 to Nd-144, in conjunction with the Sm-147/Nd-144 ratio, allows for the determination of the formation age of various geological materials. This isotopic system is particularly useful for dating ancient rocks and tracing mantle sources.