Available Research Equipment

Sample Preparation & Mineral Separation

Spex Mill

Frantz Isodynamic Separator

Centrifuge and micro-filtration

• Spex Mill with tungsten carbide and alumina balls for grinding rock samples
• Rock crushing equipment
• Rock saws
• Rock grinding and polishing equipment
• Sieves; shaker
• Agate mortars and pestles
• Frantz Isodynamic separator
• Heavy liquids & separator funnels
• Centrifuges
• Micro-filtration capabilities

Mineral Identification

Nikon 50i POL

Nikon Optiphot

GE 9000 Z80 XRD

• Four Research grade polarizing microscopes (Nikon Optiphot; Nikon 50i – POL; Meiji MT9900); three with Epi-illuminators for reflected light microscopy
• Four digital cameras for photomicrography
• Nineteen petrographic student microscopes
• Numerous binocular stereo microscopes
• General Electric X-ray diffractometer (XRD-9000 Z-80/ XRD-6VS)
• XRF Spectrometer (1960’s model upgraded in 1986)

Chemical Analysis

JEOL JSM 5310LV SEM

JEOL 7200F-LV FEG SEM

Agilent 5110 VDV ICP-OES

Varian Spectra AA 600 ZGF-AAS

Hach DR 2800 Spectrophotomoter

Oakton PC 2700 pH meter

• Scanning electron microscopes
  • JSM-5310LV SEM capable of:
    • Imaging at magnifications up to 200,000 X
    • Qualitative analysis for all elements with atomic number higher than 8
    • Quantitative analysis of spots in solids as small as 2 micrometers
  • JEOL 7200F-LV Field Emission type SEM
    • Ultimax 100 Energy Dispersive Spectrometer
    • Deben Centurion Cathodoluminescence detector
    • Aztec 4.2 software
• Agilent 5110 VDV Inductively Coupled Atomic Emission Spectroscope (ICP-OES)
  • Useful for analysis of dilute solutions
  • Elements are detected at the level of tens of parts per billion (PPB)
• Varian Spectra AA 600 Zeeman Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (GF-AAS)
  • Useful for the analysis of dilute aqueous solutions
  • Concentrations of cations detected at the part per billion (PPB) level .
• Hach DR 2800 UV – Vis Spectrophotometer
  • Useful for the analysis of dilute aqueous solutions
  • Concentrations of cations and anions detected at the part per million (PPB) level
• pH and conductivity meter
• Digital Titrators
• Digital pipettes
• Portable water chemistry kits

Fluids in Minerals

Linkham THMS G600 stage and Olympus microscope

• Linkam THMS G600 heating – freezing stage for micro-thermometric studies of fluid inclusions in minerals

Soil & Aggregate Grain-Size Analysis

Sieve Shaker & US cleaner

• Rotap Sieve Shaker and ultrasonic sieve clean
• Full suite of Gilson Sieves
• Hydrometers and Graduated Cylinders

Soil Engineering Index Properties

Digital Cone Pentrometer

• Digital Cone Penetrometer (liquid limit)
• Six manual Casa Grande devices (liquid limit)

Soil Strength Testing

Digital unconfined compressive strength apparatus

• Digital Unconfined Compressive Strength apparatus
• Eight Proctor Compaction Test molds with standard and modified slide hammers

Rock Engineering Durability Analysis

Dual Tank Slake Durability testing

• Dual Tank Slake Durability Apparatus

Other Capabilities

• Epic 100 Gigapan camera
• Several portable GPS instruments
• Atomic Force Microscope
• Transmission Electron microscope
• Confocal Microscopy
• 3-D laser surface mapper