Analytical Equipment
Inorganic Geochemistry Page 1
Some of our equipment is considered part of a regional pool. Investigators with legitimate research needs are invited to contact the Geology Department to learn what arrangements are necessary to use our facilities in their work. Cover "Department" in the navigation bar at the top of the page with your cursor, and then select "E-Mail Us" to compose and send an e-mail.
Dionex DX500 ion chromatograph
Dr. Gene Perry and Ph.D. candidate Guadalupe Velazquez-Oliman are working at the computer console of our high-pressure liquid chromatograph. The instrument itself is in the background to the left of Gene. It is primarily used for the determination of anions in waters, such as nitrate, chloride, bromide, and the like, and is currently being configured to analyze transition metals as well. The computer software interface with the instrument provides for automated data recording and reduction, and allows use of a variety of analytical schemes.
Siemens ( now Bruker ) SRS 300 X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
This instrument is used in the major, minor, and trace element analysis of solid materials. In our case that means silicate rocks, for which this is the method of choice. Here Ph.D. Degree student Dave Keating is loading the sample chamber prior to starting an analytical run. The instrument can also be used to analyze liquid samples, but this is rarely done. Recording and reduction of data are handled by a dedicated computer just visible behind Dave.
Jeol JSM-5610LV Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope
Here's
Dr. Reed Scherer
with the brand-new ESEM, both of them beaming happily. That's because
he and
Dr. Melissa Lenczewski,
with Drs.
Mike Konen
of Geography and
Hans Beck
of Biology, received a grant to purchase this instrument and it had
only just become operational. As a matter of fact, this picture was
taken during the reception we held to inaugurate the instrument.
( That explains the white shirt and tie, if you were curious. )
We're very proud of them for their success, and for bringing this
instrument to the department.
The microscope is of a very recent design, and runs under "low vacuum" -- the "LV" part of "JSM-5610LV." This means it can run natural dry or frozen materials without the conductive coating, commonly gold or carbon, which was formerly required in SEM work -- a distinct advantage because the microscope will be heavily used in the study of microfossils such as diatoms and foraminifera. It is equipped with an EDX unit for compositional determinations, which can "see" all the way down the periodic table to carbon because we have an ultra-thin window on the detector, and which can do image mapping of compositional gradients. The instrument can also do cathodoluminescence, which is the method of choice for looking at the formation of cements and grain overgrowths in sedimentary materials. Finally, operations, including the generation and output of images, are entirely computer-controlled: It works like a computer game, joysticks and all. An image of a microfossil actually under observation when this picture was taken can be seen on the monitor to the left of Reed. It somewhat resembles a Roman amphora.
MAT 250 Mass Spectrometer
The MAT 250 has a class-4 laser ablation source to provide sample input to the mass spectrometer. It is currently used in determinations of the oxygen isotopic composition of silicate minerals and sulfates. Such information is useful in studying the conditions under which these materials may have formed, or the processes by which they may subsequently have been altered. Ph.D. candidate Lilliana Lefticariu is shown working with the sample input apparatus of the instrument, which is kept in Dr. Gene Perry's lab.
Siemens ( now Bruker ) X-Ray Diffractometer
The heroic age of XRDs, when all was in the open and one could actually gaze into the X-ray beam as easily as Dave is looking through the window of the access door, are thankfully long past. How many now remember the old flat-top Norelco units? This is a modern, well-shielded, instrument full of safety interlocks to prevent exposure to X-rays. It is used to generate diffractograms of powdered minerals, which in turn allow determination of crystallographic parameters ( the "d-spacing" ). With this information, the user can identify the mineral species, sometimes specify the composition, or determine the structural state of the material under study. Instrument control, data acquisition, and peak matching are done on the computer in the lower left of the picture.
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This page was made by Neil Dickey. If you have questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me.
Last updated 04/19/06