Elements and Minerals of the Earth Laboratory

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

last updated: February 12, 2024

About the Laboratory

Elements and Minerals of the Earth Laboratory

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

@ Section 3.1 Inorganic and Isotope Geochemistry

This Laboratory is part of:

Geochemistry Laboratories laboratory complex
Networks: Geo.X

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Description

The ElMiE Lab is a research-oriented facility and part of the Helmholtz center in Potsdam. The ElMiE – Lab offers the sample preparation and analyses of geological or environmental inorganic samples for element concentrations and mineralogy of inorganic materials. Laboratories and instruments associated with the ElMiE Lab include the XRD, XRF, ICP-OES, ICP-MS and IC labs that are part of the Geochemistry Laboratories.
Machines which are used in combination with the XRF and the XRD set-up are Eltra CS 2000 (determination of sulfur (S) und carbon (C)), Euro EA Elemental Analyzer (determination of H₂O/CO₂), Thermo Scientific Dionex Integrion HPIC System (determination of anions (fluoride, chloride)), Pyro-hydrolysis (separation of fluor (F) und chlor (Cl)) and Fe(II)-Analysis.
Information on how to apply for analyses and the general terms and conditions can be found here and here.

Instruments

ION CHROMATOGRAPHS are recorders that are used in chromatography; a form of high pressure liquid chromatography using conductivity detectors where a combination of weak ionic solvents are used to separate anions and cations of a solution, with the contribution of the solvent to conductivity suppressed just prior to detection; measures anions such as sulfate, nitrate, and chloride in hydrometers. (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
IC - Ion Chromatograph
X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer (XRF: Primary X-Rays are used to excite (fluoresce) X-rays in the specimen. A fused disc or pressed pellet is used for the determination of major element concentrations or trace element abundances in a bulk specimen. The X-ray detector utilizes a set of diffracting crystals specially positioned to detect one characteristic X-ray at-a-time. This sequential measurement of X-rays is termed Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS). Additional information available at "http://www.nmnh.si.edu/minsci/labs/xrf.htm" (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
XRF - X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is one of the fastest growing inorganic analytical technologies of the 21st Century. Newly developed Time of Flight instrumentation is augmenting more traditional quadruple and magnetic sector based instrumentation. Laser ablation, graphite furnace, liquid and gas chromatographic interfacing has facilitated the analysis of a significantly increased variety of sample types, enabling the determination of up to sixty elements in samples as small as 10 micro-meters in diameter and improved the resolution and detection limits of organo-metallic species analysis in such matrices as foodstuffs, water, sediment and environmental samples. Additional information available at "http://www.curtin.edu.au/curtin/centre/cems/icp_ms.html" [Summary provided by CEMS] (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
ICP-MS - Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
Measurement method of atomic spectroscopy that uses an inductively-coupled plasma to excite and ionize atoms with measurement of the number and kind of ions in the plasma from their emission of electromagnetic radiation. (Source: IUPAC; https://iupac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PAC-REC-19-02-03.R2_PR191002MC.pdf) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
ICP-AES - Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer
ICP-OES, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer
An x-ray powder diffractometer is primarily used for the identification of phases in powder form. An x-ray beam of known wavelength is focused on a powdered sample and x-ray diffraction peaks are measured using a germanium detector; the d-spacing of the observed diffraction peaks is calculated using Bragg's Law [n*lamda = 2dsin(theta)]. The Scintag Pad V automated powder diffractometer uses a Cu x-ray tube with variable filters, a four-sample changer, and a low-noise, high efficiency, liquid-nitrogen cooled germanium detector. The goniometer is automated and software packages are run from a PC running Windows NT 4. A number of Scintag software packages are available for routine powder diffraction data acquisition, background correction and peak identification. Unknowns can be matched to JCPDS cards in an on-line database. Other software is available for quantitative analysis of powder mixtures, unit cell refinement, Rietveld analysis, and GSAS structural analysis. Samples sho uld be prepared as powders with a grain size of 10 um (approximately), and typically about 100 milligrams of sample is required. Additional information available at "http://www.gps.caltech.edu/facilities/analytical/xrd.html" [Summary provided by Caltech]
An x-ray powder diffractometer is primarily used for the identification of phases in powder form. An x-ray beam of known wavelength is focused on a powdered sample and x-ray diffraction peaks are measured using a germanium detector; the d-spacing of the observed diffraction peaks is calculated using Bragg's Law [n*lamda = 2dsin(theta)]. (Source: excerpt from NASA; UUID: f54aafd2-925e-4653-b897-c6ae4e094c69) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
XRPD - X-Ray Powder Diffractometer
PXRD, Powder X-Ray Diffractometer, XRD

Analytical Methods

ION CHROMATOGRAPHS are recorders that are used in chromatography; a form of high pressure liquid chromatography using conductivity detectors where a combination of weak ionic solvents are used to separate anions and cations of a solution, with the contribution of the solvent to conductivity suppressed just prior to detection; measures anions such as sulfate, nitrate, and chloride in hydrometers.
Chromatography in which separation is based mainly on differences in the ion-exchange affinities of the sample components. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2017-0111) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
IC - Ion Chromatography
Ion Exchange Chromatography
X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer (XRF: Primary X-Rays are used to excite (fluoresce) X-rays in the specimen. A fused disc or pressed pellet is used for the determination of major element concentrations or trace element abundances in a bulk specimen. The X-ray detector utilizes a set of diffracting crystals specially positioned to detect one characteristic X-ray at-a-time. This sequential measurement of X-rays is termed Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS). Additional information available at "http://www.nmnh.si.edu/minsci/labs/xrf.htm"
Measurement method of X-Ray fluorescence used to measure amounts of elements in a material. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2019-0302) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
XRF - X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy
X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis, XRF Spectroscopy
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is one of the fastest growing inorganic analytical technologies of the 21st Century. Newly developed Time of Flight instrumentation is augmenting more traditional quadruple and magnetic sector based instrumentation. Laser ablation, graphite furnace, liquid and gas chromatographic interfacing has facilitated the analysis of a significantly increased variety of sample types, enabling the determination of up to sixty elements in samples as small as 10 micro-meters in diameter and improved the resolution and detection limits of organo-metallic species analysis in such matrices as foodstuffs, water, sediment and environmental samples. Additional information available at "http://www.curtin.edu.au/curtin/centre/cems/icp_ms.html" [Summary provided by CEMS]
Mass spectrometry technique based on coupling a mass spectrometer with an inductively coupled plasma as an ion source that both atomizes samples into their constituent atoms and ionizes them to form atomic cations. Note: The technique is highly sensitive for a range of metals and several non-metals, and provides information on isotopic distributions. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
ICP-MS - Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Measurement method of atomic spectroscopy that uses an inductively-coupled plasma to excite and ionize atoms with measurement of the number and kind of ions in the plasma from their emission of electromagnetic radiation. (Source: IUPAC; https://iupac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PAC-REC-19-02-03.R2_PR191002MC.pdf) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
ICP-AES - Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy
ICP-OES, Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy
An x-ray powder diffractometer is primarily used for the identification of phases in powder form. An x-ray beam of known wavelength is focused on a powdered sample and x-ray diffraction peaks are measured using a germanium detector; the d-spacing of the observed diffraction peaks is calculated using Bragg's Law [n*lamda = 2dsin(theta)]. The Scintag Pad V automated powder diffractometer uses a Cu x-ray tube with variable filters, a four-sample changer, and a low-noise, high efficiency, liquid-nitrogen cooled germanium detector. The goniometer is automated and software packages are run from a PC running Windows NT 4. A number of Scintag software packages are available for routine powder diffraction data acquisition, background correction and peak identification. Unknowns can be matched to JCPDS cards in an on-line database. Other software is available for quantitative analysis of powder mixtures, unit cell refinement, Rietveld analysis, and GSAS structural analysis. Samples sho uld be prepared as powders with a grain size of 10 um (approximately), and typically about 100 milligrams of sample is required. Additional information available at "http://www.gps.caltech.edu/facilities/analytical/xrd.html" [Summary provided by Caltech] (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
XRPD - X-Ray Powder Diffraction
PXRD, Powder X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Diffraction Analysis, XRD

Laboratory Keywords

In addition to the instruments and analytical methods listed above, these keywords help to describe the work done in the laboratory. This may include the type of samples, standard materials, specific preparative or analytical methods and specific instrument characteristics.

Disciplines

Geoscience > Geochemistry > Geochemistry
Geochemistry

The Research Network for Geosciences in Berlin and Potsdam

Elements and Minerals of the Earth Laboratory

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

About the Laboratory

Elements and Minerals of the Earth Laboratory

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Description

Instruments

Analytical Methods

Laboratory Keywords

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