Petrotectonics Analytical Facility
The PetroTectonic Analytical Facilities provide geochemical and isotopic analyses of rocks for a variety of geological applications including petrology, mineralogy, fluid-flow and ore formation. The facility is built around two instruments: 1) a Rigaku Primus II X-ray floresence (XRF) spectrometer, and ii) a laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) system which combines a 193 Excimer laser from New Wave with a ThermoFisher X-series II quadrupole mass spectrometer. The facility was funded by the Knut & Alice Wallenburg Foundation icon for external page and the Department of Geological Sciences.
The XRF is used for the analysis of major elements with good reproducibility and precision. Our LA-ICPMS system generates trace element analyses (including REEs) to complement the XRF, and also performs U-Pb analyses of zircons, badleyite, apatite and rutile, as well as fluid inclusion analyses of quartz and trace elements in magnetite.
The Department also provides basic rock and thin-section preparation facilities, fluid inclusion analysis, Atomic Floresence Spectroscope and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Other facilities include high-power Leica petrographic microscopes, a digital camera and imaging software, picking microscopes, a PetroScope and the PetroTectonics Library.
For any questions related to the PetroTectonics Analytical Facilities, please contact:
Victoria Pease, vicky.pease@geo.su.se
Basic rock and thin-section preparation facilities
Our rock and thin-section preparation facilities include an automated thin-section polisher, the Logitech 50 (2006). In addition to the LG50, we have a Buehler Vibromet 2 for the final polishing associated with EBSD analysis, several standard lap wheels for manual sample preparation, as well as the necessary rock saws. We recently purchased new crushing and mineral separation equipment and can process most rock samples for basic mineralogical and petrological needs.
For information and booking contact: Iain Pitcairn, iain.pitcairn@geo.su.se
LA-ICP-MS
The analysis of fluid inclusions, U-Pb dating, and trace element concentrations of silicates is carried out by LA-ICP-MS.
Contact information: Victoria Pease, vicky.pease@geo.su.se
XRF
Rigaku Primus II X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer
Funded by the Knut & Alice Wallenburg Foundation, installed in 2007, provides particularly accurate major element (oxide) analyses, with good reproducibility and precision for most trace elements. Such chemical analyses are used for a variety of studies, from experimental mineralogy and micro-structural analysis to igneous and metamorphic petrology.
Phoenix autofuser
Samples are prepared for analysis using pulverized rock powder mixed with lithium metaborate flux at 5:2, which facilitates fusing. Our Phoenix autofuser allows us to fuse four samples simultaneously and insures uniform preparation of fused glass disks for XRF analysis.
Our standard element suite includes the 10 major elements (Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Na, P) and 18 standard trace elements (Sc, V, Ni, Cr, Ba, Sr, Zr, Y, Rb, Nb, Ga, Cu, Zn, Pb, La, Ce, Th, Nd).
For more information, contact: Victoria Pease, vicky.pease@geo.su.se
Last updated: August 29, 2022
Source: Department of Geological Sciences