Laboratories

Major Laboratories

Core Research Laboratory

Room: Building 15, Federal Center
Contact: Dr. Thomas Monecke, tmonecke@mines.edu
Link: Laboratory Homepage

Non-destructive analysis of core involving continuous multielement analysis using XRF. In addition, high-resolution core images and surface topographic data are collected allowing structural measurements and rock quality designation.

Gamma Spectroscopy Laboratory

Room: BH301A
Contact: Dr. Danica Roth, droth@mines.edu

Small Anode Germanium (SAGe)Well detector system with cosmic background radiation reduction. This lab is currently used to measure concentrations of short-lived radionuclides such as 7Be and 137Cs in a variety of soil samples

General Chemistry Lab

Room: BH406
Contact: Dr. Alexis Sitchler asitchle@mines.edu, Dr. Thomas Monecke tmonecke@mines.edu

A general chemistry and research labs with a wide variety of standard equipment including fume hoods, glassware, ovens, hotplates, centrifuges, scales, etc. Instrument: Ion Chromotagraphy

LA-ICP-MS Laboratory

Room: CO260A
Contact: Dr. Zhaoshan Chang, chang@mines.edu
Link: Laboratory Homepage

Microscopy and Fluid Inclusion Laboratory

Room: BH111, BH401B
Contact: Dr. Thomas Monecke, tmonecke@mines.edu
Link: Laboratory Homepage

Minerals and Materials Characterization Facility

Room: BH110, BH116, BH118, BH119
Contact: Dr. Katharina Pfaff, kpfaff@mines.edu
Link: Facility Homepage

Short Wavelength Infra-Red (SWIR) Spectral Analysis Lab

Room: BH 226A
Contact: Dr. Zhaoshan Chang, chang@mines.edu
Link: Lab

ASD/ Malvern Panalytical FieldSpec 4 High-Resolution NG

Thin Section Lab

Room: BH147
Contact: Kelsey Livingston, klivingston@mines.edu

Rock saws, laps, automated thin section and polishing equipment for production of petrographic thin sections, polished thin sections, and fluid inclusion sections.

X-Ray Diffractometer

Room: BH405
Contact: Dr. Ric Wendlandt, rwendlan@mines.edu

A powder x-ray diffraction system used for mineral characterization. The solid state system is PC driven and completely automated, capable of multi-sample analysis and uses a copper radiation source. Instrument: Scintag XDS 2000

Additional Analytical Equipment

Gamma Spectroscopy Laboratory

Room: 301A
Contact: Dr. Danica Roth, droth@mines.edu

Geology Core Lab

Room: Green Center B-73 & B-70
Contact: Dr. Stephen Sonnenberg, ssonnenb@mines.edu

Geomechanics

Room: 303
Contact: Dr. Paul Santi, psanti@mines.edu

Geotech sample testing equipment

Room: 101/ Garage
Contact: Dr. Paul Santi, psanti@mines.edu

Magnetic Separator

Room: 147E
Contact: Dr. Yvette Kuiper, ykuiper@mines.edu

For the separation of magnetically sensitive grains of a ground up rock sample by use of a vibrating slide within a magnetic field, in preparation for various types of analysis. Instrument: Franz L-1

Petrographic Microscope

Room: 401
Contact: Dr. Wendy Bohrson, bohrson@mines.edu

A research quality petrographic microscope with a digital imaging system and a camera attachment. Various other research microscopes are distributed throughout the Department. Instrument: Leitz Labolux 12 Pol

Rates and Dates Laboratory

Room: 407
Contact: Dr. Ryan Venturelli, venturelli@mines.edu

Preparation of sediment and rock samples, including drying, crushing, acid treatment, and microscopy. Equipped with a custom carbon extraction and graphitization line for radiocarbon and in situ carbon research. Link: mines.edu/rad

Rock Crushing and Milling

Room: 147D
Contact: Dr. Thomas Monecke tmonecke@mines.edu, Dr. Yvette Kuiper ykuiper@mines.edu

Rocklab Boyd jaw crusher and ring mill for crushing and pulverizing rock samples for geochemical analysis. A BICO cone mill is available for grinding and pulverizing of broken rock samples in preparation for geochronological analysis.

Source Rock Analyzer

Room: 301B
Contact: Dr. Steve Sonnenberg, ssonnenb@mines.edu

Anhydrous whole rock (dry whole rock) pyrolysis analysis of source and reservoir rock hydrocarbons for organic carbon content and estimation of thermal maturity.

Water Level Sounder

Room: 101D
Contact: Dr. Dave Benson, dbenson@mines.edu

For measurement of water levels in wells along with measurements of organic liquid-water interface levels. Instrument: Solinist #11688