The microprobe laboratories in Reston, Denver, and Menlo Park each provide high resolution dye-sublimation printers, laser printers, and Polaroid film output capability and all three laboratories are fully integrated on the network for digital transfer of chemical and image data. The instruments are capable of fully automated, unattended analysis for twenty-four hour operation. Off-line image processing and data reduction software are available in each laboratory. Accurate quantitative analysis is a fundamental component of most microanalytical studies in the Geologic Division. The detection limit for most elements is between 100 and 500 ppm.
Standards are critical in quantitative electron probe microanalysis.
All three Division laboratories have hundreds of well-characterized standards providing the ability to produce the highest quality quantitative analyses of most materials including metals, ceramics, and all types of geological samples. Elemental x-ray mapping and line scan profile analysis are extremely valuable analytical tools for determining the lateral distribution of elements within a sample. The 8900 microprobes have full digital, quantitative mapping and line scan capability. In addition, large area elemental mapping can provide information about chemical variations across a sample that is otherwise difficult to obtain. The 8900 microprobes employ stage raster mapping in addition to beam raster mapping.