Rock Preparation and Mineral Separation

Contact:
Web:
Infrastructure belongs to:

The section is well equipped for rock crushing, sieving and milling, preparation of thin and polished sections and grain mounts, and mineral separation by gravimetric and magnetic methods. We maintain central facilities and equipment for cleaning, crushing, sieving and grinding rock samples, both for preparation of homogenized whole rock powders and for the production of mineral separates. Whole rock powders (grain sizes < 62 μm) are typically used for X-Ray diffraction (XRD), X-Ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) and for isotope geochemistry.

Mineral separates (e.g., olivine, quartz, zircon, apatite, sulphides) are required for a wide range of techniques in geochemistry and isotope geochemistry, including isotopic dating, noble gas analysis, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and trace element geochemistry.

Categories

Disciplinary Keywords

Instrumentation

Laboratory instrumentation

Instruments

  • Ball Mill
  • Binocular

    A pair of identical or mirror-symmetrical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point accurately in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes (binocular vision) when viewing distant objects. Most are sized to be held using both hands, although sizes vary widely from opera glasses to large pedestal mounted military models. (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects pision, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords)

  • Disc Mill
  • Frantz Magnetic Separator
  • Heavy Liquid Separation Line
  • Jaw Crusher
  • Roll Mill
  • Screening Machine
  • Shaker
  • Wilfley Shaker Table

Relationships