Labs

Microprobe and XRD Lab

The University’s microprobe facility houses the new Cameca SX100 with five spectrometers and large crystals for analyzing spots on materials down to about 5 microns and with an accuracy in the tens of parts per million. This instrument also has fully automated capabilities and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy for rapid determination of about 90 elements in samples in less than a few minutes. The instrument can map the distribution of elements in samples from micron size to millimeter scale with sub-micron resolution. Contact Dr. Dennis Darby or the SX100 operator, Stephen Herman for further information.

An ETEC Autoprobe with Krisel automation, 3 spectrometers, and imaging capabilities with a KEVEX EDS system for identifying elements present in solid samples
A vacuum evaporator for coating samples
A Phillips model PW1729 X-Ray Diffractometer with PC automation

Shannon Cofield, Ph.D. student, doing microscopy with a Nikon reflected-light pol-microscope.

Sedimentology Lab, OCNPS 340

A fully equipped, modern lab for handling routine sedimentological investigations and sample preparation for microprobe analyses, including a large capacity centrifuge, high capacity sonifier, fume hood drying oven, computer-linked balance, 2 Nikon reflected-light pol-microscopes with cameras and one Vickers reflected-light ore microscope, Malvern Mastersizer 2000 particle size analyzer, Frantz industrial electromagnetic separator, several sets of sieves, and programmable Buehler polishing equipment.