{"id":7977,"date":"2024-09-06T11:49:38","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T16:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/geosciences\/?page_id=7977"},"modified":"2024-09-10T15:15:15","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T20:15:15","slug":"facilities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/geosciences\/research\/facilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Facilities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Department of Geosciences houses a wide range of analytical and other research facilities. Students use these facilities in classes and independent research.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

X-Ray Analytical Lab <\/strong>\u2013 has an X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF) for elemental analysis and an X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) for determining the mineralogical composition of Earth materials.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paleomagnetism Lab<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 has equipment for uncovering records of Earth\u2019s magnetic field locked in Earth materials.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FTIR Lab<\/strong> \u2013 The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Laboratory houses a Nicolet Nexus 470 FTIR with a Continuum Analytical-IR microscope attachment using KBr beam splitter and a liquid nitrogen-cooled MCT-A detector. The FTIR is used to measure the H2<\/sub>O and CO2<\/sub> concentration in volcanic glasses. A 100 \u03bcm diameter square aperture is normally used during glass analysis, although the size and shape of the aperture can be modified to avoid vesicles and microlites present in glass samples. Each spectrum collected normally is generated by 512 scans between 650 and 4000 cm\u22121<\/sup>, taken at 4 cm\u22121<\/sup> resolution. In basaltic glasses, total H2<\/sub>O is calculated using the vibration band at 3550 cm\u22121<\/sup>. The molar absorptivity coefficient used for this wave number is 63 l mol-cm\u22121<\/sup>. Density of basaltic glass can be estimated to be 2800 kgm\u22123<\/sup> or calculated based on the glass chemistry. Glass wafer thickness can be measured by a Mitutoyo digital micrometer, microscope focusing, and by FTIR interference fringes in reflectance mode.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Soils Laboratory<\/strong> – The Malvern Mastersizer 2000 is housed in the Soils Laboratory in the Department of Geosciences. The Malvern is a particle size analyzer that uses the laser diffraction method to determine the grain size of soils, sediments, and volcanic deposits. The Malvern measures the <2 mm grain size fraction of the sample, thus bulk samples must be sieved using a #10 \u2013 2 mm sieve. Up to 1 gram of representative material is wetted in sodium metaphosphate solution for at least 24 hours to disaggregate the sample before analysis. The Malvern provides a particle size distribution from clay to coarse sand for the sample. For soils, the sand, silt, and clay components can be used to classify the samples.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rock Prep Lab <\/strong>\u2013 has rock saws, a drill press, thin-sectioning equipment, and other equipment for preparing rock samples for analysis.\u202f\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sedimentology and Geomorphology\u202f Lab – <\/strong>has a 1x1x10 m long flume and assorted tanks to model\u202f sedimentation by water, density, and debris flows. Drones for air photography and 3D imagery, and research grade petrographic and stereo microscopes.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seismometer <\/strong>— 51ÁÔÆæ operates both an analog and digital seismometer<\/a> which are housed in a specially designed vault in the basement of Lapham Hall. With this equipment, we are able to record earthquakes worldwide. Take a look at our earthquake log<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recirculating Flume<\/strong>\u2014meter-scale flume for research on physical sedimentary processes and paleontological fluid dynamics <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Groundwater Wells<\/strong>–several on-campus supply and monitoring wells for research on groundwater flow and contaminant transport\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geosciences students may also have access to other facilities on campus, including:\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n