Clumped Isotope Thermometry

Clumped Isotope Thermometry is a scientific method used to determine the temperature at which minerals, like carbonates, formed in rocks or fossils. It measures how certain rare carbon and oxygen isotopes (variants of atoms) bond together (“clump” together) inside these minerals. The amount of these isotope pairs depends on temperature—more clumping occurs at lower temperatures. By analyzing these isotope bonds with specialized instruments, scientists can accurately estimate the temperature when the mineral formed, helping to reconstruct past climates and environmental conditions with high precision.