Multi-element (H,C,N,S) stable isotope ratio analysis was tested for its suitability as a means for geographical provenance assignment of lamb meat from several European regions. The defatted dry matter (crude protein fraction) from lamb meat was found to be a suitable probe for "light" element stable isotope ratio analysis. Significant differences were observed between the multi-element isotope ratios of lamb samples from different regions. The mean hydrogen isotopic ratios of the defatted dry matter from lamb were found to be significantly correlated with the mean hydrogen isotopic ratios of precipitation and groundwater in the production regions. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios were influenced by feeding practices and climate. Sulfur isotopic ratios were influenced by geographical location and surface geology of the production region. The results permitted differentiation of lamb meat, from most production regions, by inspection. However, more sophisticated evaluation of the data using multivariate methods, such as linear discriminant analysis, achieved 78% correct classification.

H, C, and O stable isotope ratios and the elemental profile of 267 olive oils and 314 surface waters collected from 8 European sites are presented and discussed. The aim of the study was to investigate if olive oils produced in areas with different climatic and geological characteristics could be discriminated on the basis of isotopic and elemental data. The stable isotope ratios of H, C, and O of olive oils and the ratios of H and O of the relevant surface waters correlated to the climatic (mainly temperature) and geographical (mainly latitude and distance from the coast) characteristics of the provenance sites. It was possible to characterize the geological origin of the olive oils by using the content of 14 elements (Mg, K, Ca, V, Mn, Zn, Rb, Sr, Cs, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, U). By combining the 3 isotopic ratios with the 14 elements and applying a multivariate discriminant analysis, a good discrimination between olive oils from 8 European sites was achieved, with 95% of the samples correctly classified into the production site.

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Organic sulfur and elemental sulfur have nearly the same isotopic composition but are enriched substantially in 34 S relative to co--existing pyrite in marine sediments. Isotope mass-balance budgets together with evidence on the timing of sulfur transformations suggest that 34 S-enriched species produced by sulfide oxidation, such as polysulfides or sulfoxyanions, during the earliest stages of diagenesis are the predominant precursors of organic sulfur and elemental sulfur. Early-diagenetic H 2 S contributes to the formation of both organic and elemental sulfur but is not the principal source. Model results also suggest that sulfur species derived from primary organic matter make up 20 % of neoformed organic-sulfur compounds.Organically-bound sulfur and elemental sulfur are enriched in 34 S by up to 30 permil relative to co-existing pyrite in virtually all modern marine sediments and sedimentary rocks for which sulfur isotopic data on those species have been reported (e.g., 1-7). This pattern of isotopic fractionation thus appears to be a characteristic feature of the marine biogeochemical cycle of sulfur, and one that has been neither widely recognized nor satisfactorily addressed. The objective of this paper is to provide new insights on the origin of organic sulfur and elemental sulfur in marine sediments based on the isotopic evidence. First, we derive mass-balance budgets based on isotopic correlation trends for organic sulfur and elemental sulfur relative to pyrite. Those calculations place limits on the proportions and isotopic compositions of likely sources of organic sulfur and elemental sulfur. We then consider the implications of the isotope budgets for possible pathways of organic-sulfur and elemental-sulfur formation in marine sediments. Marine Biogeochemistry of Sulfur and Sulfur IsotopesThe biogeochemistry of sulfur in marine sediments is dominated by dissimilatory bacterial sulfate reduction to H2S (8). Because sulfate-reducing bacteria are obligate 0097-6156/95/0612-0378$12.00/0

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