For those interested reply directly to my mailbox, by phone or by fax.  Please do not clutter the newsgroup with info replies.  The instrument would be available for October 1st, 1997
Here is the information regarding the sale of one of our stable isotope machines.
The instrument is a VG SIRA-12, triple collector, dual inlet, fully automated stable isotope ratio analysis mass spectrometer.  It was purchased new in 1984.  In 1989 it was upgraded with a micro-inlet and three new diffusion pumps at a cost of $44 000 US .  The software has been modified for direct geological calculations (alpha corrections) and usage including Auto-water  (water 18O) and Laser vaporisation (Sulphides and carbonates) subroutines.
We were using the instrument for CO2, however since the installation of the micro-inlet in 1989 it is used for CO2 and SO2.  It is presently being used for laser vaporisation on sulphide minerals and for routine SO2 and CO2 analysis.  The instrument was used for about 6 months for the development and routine analysis of an automated 18O in water system by the CO2-H2O equilibration method.  The purchase of a used SIRA-12 in 1992 has allowed us to keep the laser and water systems separate for convenience and higher throughput.
The instrument is being sold to make room for a continuous flow system with EA and GC-C-IRMS capabilities.  It has proven to be a good automatic dual inlet instrument.
Specifications:
Gas     Internal precision      Sample size     Sample size
        ( 2 sigma)      Standard inlet  Cold finger	
                 (bar microL)   (bar microL)
CO2     0.015   < 100   <10
        0.050   30      3
SO2     0.030   < 100   10
SO      0.030   < 100   10
N2      0.015   100     20
Note approximate conversion : 10 bar microL = 0.5 microMole
Resolution: 100 (10% Valley definition)
Abundant sensitivity: <2ppm; defined as the contribution of mass 44 to mass 45 and is expressed relative to the intensity of mass 44.
Mass Range: 24 to 80 amu
Inlet: Stainless steel Micro-inlet with all soft seat valves
Collectors: Deep Faraday buckets to minimise escape of reflected ions
Ion optics: 12 cm dispersion analyser with asymmetrical geometry.  The ions are deflected through  90 degrees by a permanent magnet.
Manifold: 10 ports with crackers
System Controller:  full automation, including gauges and source.  System can also be run manually.  The system also has some self diagnostic capabilities.
Installation information
Power requirement: 240Volts±10%, 50-60Hz, single phase, 20 amps.  An isolation transformer is highly recommended (600V to 240V or 208V to 240V at 20 or 30A)
Cooling water: 1.5L/min at 15oC.  Unless in house chilled water is supplied it is recommended to use a closed circuit chiller.
Compressed air: 100psi (7 bar)
Dimensions: 85 X 189 X 80 cm
Total weight: 600Kg
        Prices ( $US)
Mass spectrometer (with computer system and 10 sample crackers):        $38 000.00
Re-circulating chiller(water to air)            $340.00
Isolation transformer: 208 to 240V              $340.00
Shipping: to be discussed
Installation & 3 months parts and labour warranty:  We suggest Iso-mass Scientific of Calgary, Canada.  They would install it to specs. Cost to be negotiated with them.
Or whoever you want, but we (Ottawa U.) can't guarantee specs in this case. 
Training (optional):  For those starting out, three options are available with up to 6 participants. The course outline is tentative for now.

Option 1:       Hardware & software (5 days)
        Course held at your site
        $2 500.00 + travel and accommodation

                                COURSE OUTLINE
I) Basic principals in Stable Isotope Geochemistry
a) Introduction
b) History
c) Definitions
d) Theoretical considerations (temperature, kinetics, etc...)
e) International Reference Scales (PDB, SMOW, CDT)
f) Natural variations of the stable isotopes of interest (2H, 13C, 15N,18O, 34S)
g) The carbon cycle( an isotopic model)
II) Instrumentation
a) Mass spectrometers; a general overview
b) Stable isotope mass spectrometers
c) Preliminary checks and preparations of instrument
c) Reference materials
d) Internal standards and their calibrations
e) Analysis and results

III) Maintenance and troubleshooting (most common problems)
1) M.S. Components
a) Vacuum system
b) Inlet and manifold
c) Source
d) Collectors
2) Electronic units
a) Basic electronic concepts for the use of a DMM in troubleshooting
b) Computer and Software
c) Source control
d) High voltage control
e) System Control
f) Vacuum control
Option 2:        Software only (2 days)
        Participants: no limit 
        Course held at your site 
        $1 200.00 + travel and accommodation
COURSE OUTLINE
I Basic principals in Stable Isotope Geochemistry
a) Introduction
b) History
c) Definitions
d) Theoretical considerations (temperature, kinetics, etc...)
e) International Reference Scales (PDB, SMOW, CDT)
f) Natural variations of the stable isotopes of interest (2H, 13C, 15N, 18O, 34S)
g) The carbon cycle( an isotopic model)
II) Instrumentation
a) Mass spectrometers; a general overview
b) Stable isotope mass spectrometers
c) Preliminary checks and preparations of instrument
c) Reference materials
d) Internal standards and their calibrations
e) Analysis and results
Option 3:       Hardware & software (5 days) ?See option 1
        Course held at Ottawa U.
        $2 000.00


Gilles St-Jean
Technologue de Recherche
U d'Ottawa/ Géologie/ Laboratoire d'Isotope G.G. Hatch
140 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
Bureau/Office: 1-(613) 562-5800 ext. 6839
Lab:                                               ext. 6836
Courier-E / E-Mail: [log in to unmask]