A method for high-precision and high-accuracy mass spectometric measurements of the ratios among the three oxygen isotopes, and of the O-2/Ar ratio, is presented. It involves separation of the O-2-Ar mixture from air and includes a fully automated system that ensures highly reliable sample processing. Repeated measurements of atmospheric oxygen yield the repeatability (+/-SE x t, standard error of the mean (n = 12) multiplied by Student's t-factor for a 95% confidence limit) of 0.004, 0.003 and 0.2parts per thousand for delta(18)O, delta(17)O and deltaO(2)/Ar, respectively. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.