Dear Willi: I agree with you that most laboratories will be unable to cover these outrageous costs for the proposed ring test. We would certainly cancel our participation. Tyler Coplen mentioned several months ago in this discussion forum that he has three sets of homogenous hydrogen gases with delta H-2 close to 0, -125, and -750 per mil respectively available in 9 mm tubes for immediate distribution. If these are still available at low cost , this might be a fantastic alternative to the Messer Griesheim gases. Rather than buying expensive valves, this would reduce the costs to a single tube cracker for 9 mm glas per laboratory (if not available) and could enable us to go ahead with a ring test which in my opinion would be very interesting and helpful. With regards, Bernhard Mayer >Dear subscribers to the ring test, >today I was informed by the Messer Griesheim company that they do not want to >supply the three gases per participant free of charge. This is contrary to their >original promise. The amount of money they are asking for is 2500 DM (1700 US$) >per set of 3 bottles and one valve. >In my point of view this is prohibitive for the ring test. I assume that the >larger number of subscribers is not prepared to pay this amount so that the >basis for a successful test is not given any more. >Unless I can either convince MG that the amount to be payed per participant is >substantially lower than the quote or that I find another form of support for >the test I am forced to cancel the test. >I would like to solicit your opinion on this matter. >I will try to find another form of support. >In case I am successful I will revitalize the proposed test. >Truly sorry Willi Brand > > > 覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧 Bernhard Mayer Lehrstuhl f. Sediment u. Isotopengeologie Inst. f. Geologie Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum 44780 Bochum Germany Office: (49)-234-700-5458 Secret.: (49)-234-700-3250 FaxNo: (49)-234-709-4571 E-mail: [log in to unmask] 覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧