Facilities
Laboratory Equipment & Resources
Rock & Mineral Collection
The department maintains a collection of rocks and minerals to facilitate student geoscience learning. The collection is grouped into the following categories: Sedimentary Rocks, Igneous Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks, and Minerals. It is accessible at the far end of the east wall cabinets.
Each sample has an ID code with details found here.
Balances
There are four balances available with precision ranging from decigram to milligram.
Ovens
The department has two ovens for sample preparation and analysis. The Fisher Isotemp in KCH106 is used to dry soil and sediment samples for moisture content analysis and in preparation for other methods as well as evaporating water samples for total dissolved solids analysis. The larger Isotemp model 550 oven is used for the loss-on-ignition analysis of organic and inorganic carbon measurement in soil and sediment.
Benchtop Meters
Two YSI 4010-2W benchtop meters each with pH and electrical conductivity probes for analyzing soil and water collected and brought to the laboratory.
Particle Size Analysis
The department has the following equipment for both automated and manual particle size analysis:
Horiba LA 960 Particle Size Analyzer with a 30 sample capacity autosampler
Sedimentation cylinders & hydrometer
Stainless steel Gilson sieves & sieve shaker
Glassware
The department has a range of glassware and mortar & pestles for sample analysis and processing.
Microscopes
There are two microscopes for analysis soil micromorphological thin sections.
Radical Trinocular Polarizing Microscope w/Rotating Stage
Digital Dino-Lite Edge with Polarizer, extended depth of field, AMR, 20x-230x
Magnetic Susceptibility
The lab has a Bartington MS2 Magnetic Susceptibility along with a range of probes for a variety of purposes.
MS2B Dual Frequency Sensor: Soil magnetic property characterization
MS2D Surface Scanning Probe: Field assessment of surface 100 mm
MS2E Core Logging Sensor: Magnetic assessment of split cores
MS2F Surface Point Probe: Magnetic assessment of soil/rock profiles
MS2K Surface Sensor: Surface assessment of outcrops and split cores
MS2H Downhole Sensor: Magnetic assessment of a bore or core hole
Geochemistry Preparation
The Chemistry department has a Thermo Fisher Niton Goldd+ portable XRF capable of analyzing the chemical composition of physical samples such as rock, sediment, or soil. To aid in these analyses the department has a Carver hydraulic press for the production of pressed pellets to aid in analytical precision. Pellets can then easily be used in the Chemistry department's MiniFlex 600 Benchtop XRD for mineralogical analyses.
Centrifuge
The department has a Beckman GS-15R Centrifuge for the preparation of a variety of samples.
Field Equipment
Vibracore D
The department has an SDI Vibracore-D for the collection of minimally disturbed core samples from aquatic and palustrine environments. Current coring capabilities allow the collection of samples to depths of 15 feet, but can be expanded to depths of up to 100 feet.
Field GPS/GNSS
Garmin GPSMap
These rugged field units allow students to record location of features or lines with accuracies of +/-3 m.
EOS Arrow Gold+
This high precision GNSS Receiver allows students to determine precise locations for field samples or natural and cultural features at cm level accuracies. Can be used in conjunction with the available iPad or linked with phones for individual data collection.
Flowtracker 2
The department has a Sontek Flowtracker 2 accoustic doppler velocimeter for measuring water flow velocity and discharge for wadable streams and rivers. In conjunction with the available waders and PFDs, students can safely engage in stream study and research.
Groundwater Monitoring
We have five Solinst Levelogger 5 groundwater and temperature monitoring sondes and one Solinst Barologger for atmospheric pressure corrections. These are typically deployed at various locations to aid in monitoring groundwater dynamics in local environments.
Field Meters
The department has several meters for measuring water quality parameters in the field, or simple soil/sediment:water mixtures for field assessment.
Extech 407510 Heavy Duty Dissolved Oxygen Meter
Hanna Instruments 9813-5 pH/EC/TDS/Temperature Meter
Extech EC500 ExStikII pH/Conductivity Meter
Fluxgate Gradiometers
The department has two FM256 Fluxgate Gradiometers for subsurface identification of subsurface archaeological, geological, and environmental features.
Soil Bulk Density Sampler
The department has an AMS Bulk Density sampler for the collection of 2 in x 2 in samples (6.28 cubic in). It allows students to study effects of different environments and human actions on soil compaction and the changes in soil density with depth in exposed soil profiles.
Soil/Sediment Coring
The department has an AMS Multi-Stage Sludge and Sediment Corer for the extraction of 2 in diameter core sections up to 4 ft in length. Multiple sections can be collected from the same location using extensions for a maximum sampling depth of 16 ft. This allows study of subsurface soil/sediment composition for research of landscape geomorphic change.
General Field Equipment
Additional field equipment and supplies are available to facilitate student exploration and study of environments & landscapes including soil augers and probes for surface sampling.
YSI 9500
For measuring water chemistry we have the portable YSI 9500 Photometer capable of measuring over 100 parameters based on available reagents.
