A recent addition to the Department of Earth and Planetary Science analytical instrumentation is a new Philips PW2400 wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometer with light element capability. The instrument also includes a fully automated 30-position sample changer for extended analysis acquisition time. The new SEM is available for general research and undergraduate teaching. The SEM operates under a standard Windows 3.11 OS and Pentium PC platform.
Various aspects are measurements, data analysis and interpretation.
The facilites are available to outside users as demand permits. A nominal fee is charged to offset maintenance costs. Link to Texture Page Extensive use of the microprobe and SEM facilities within the department is made by researchers such as Alvarez , Brimhall, Carmichael, Jeanloz, Jones, and Wenk, encompassing such diverse areas as igneous petrology, ore geology, surficial weathering, crystallography, mineralogy, geophysics and regional geology. In addition frequent use of the facilities are made by the Berkeley Geochronology Center staff for investigation of both geological and anthropological studies. The XRF laboratory is also a widely used facility both within and outside the department for destructive and non-destructive chemical analysis of whole rock powders, flux disolutions and artifacts.