Cathodoluminescence microscopy is a technique to visualize in minerals and materials heterogeneities and internal structures that are invisible using pure optical methods (reflected and transmitted light microscopy). Internal structures of minerals become visible and are indicative of growth zoning, trace element zoning and structures allowing processes such as mineral growth, resolution and alteration to be reconstructed. Furthermore, it helps to rapidly distinguish optical similar minerals, …

The Electron Microprobe lab offers non-destructive chemical analyses of solids using a JEOL JXA-8200 Electron Probe Microanalyzer (EPMA) with an EDX detector. The microprobe is capable of quantitatively measuring the abundance of all elements from C to U using five wavelength-dispersive spectrometers (WDS) and an energy-dispersive X-Ray spectrometer (EDX) for rapid analyses. This analytical technique combines micron-scale chemical analyses with scanning electron microscopy and is capable of …

By using this elemental analyzer (Euro EA 3000) it is possible to determine the concentration of nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen in solid samples. The substance to be analysed is digested by an oxidative combustion of samples packaged in tin foil. The combustion takes place explosively in a highly oxygen enriched He atmosphere. Gases that generated during the combustion are led by the carrier gas (helium) into the separation column. CO₂, H₂O, N₂ and SO₂ are separated chromatographically within …

The HT-HP-Laboratories comprises a vertical gas-mixing furnace (Carbolite-Gero STF 16/180) for for synthesis of glasses or crystals under controlled oxygen fugacity (f₀₂ conditions). Gas mixtures of CO, CO₂ and Ar/H₂ are possible or experiments can be run under atmospheric conditions.
The laboratory further includes diamond anvil cells (DAC) and laser heating needed for own and collaborators' high pressure and high temperature research. In detail, there is a suite of different types of …

ICP-OES is an analytical method for the determination of elements in the concentration range from μg/l to g/l. The ICP-AES laboratory uses an ICP5100 with vertical dual view (VDV) from Agilent. By using a vertically arranged torch is it possible to observe the plasma in both directions axial and radial. The simultaneous measurement of all elements of interest enables a short measurement time. This allows a high sample throughput and the processing of very small sample volumes as well.
The …

The LA-ICP-MS facility at the University of Potsdam is used for in situ microanalysis such as precise U-Th-Pb age determination of accessory minerals (e.g. zircon, monazite, and apatite) and trace element analysis of silicate materials (e.g. garnet, zircon) in geological samples. Quantitative analyses can be obtained for most elements in the mass range from ⁷Li to ²³⁸U at low ppm level and spatial resolutions of 15 to 150 microns. Samples can be epoxy mounts (2.54 cm or 0.8-1 cm in diameter) …

Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive technique based on the inelastic scattering of light (Raman scattering) that allows microscopic examination of minerals and other materials. Excited by monochromatic light (laser), the specimen emits scattered light showing different frequencies than the laser light in the spectrum (Raman bands). The differences in the frequencies (Raman-shift) contain vibrational information of molecules in the specimen, and by that of its composition and structure. The …

The sample preparation laboratories provide facilities to prepare geological samples for a wide range of analytical methods. These include mineral separations for geochronologic analysis, mineral powders for geochemical analysis and polished thin sections for microscopy.

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is designed for fast analytical and micro-morphological investigation of surfaces. The lab is running a JEOL JSM-6510 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) (W-filament, 0.5-30 kV acceleration voltage) combined with an Oxford Instrument INCAx-act detector (Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectrometer, EDX) for fast analytical and micro-morphological investigations. The maximum sample size is 32 mm in diameter; spatial resolution of the SEM down to 3 nm (30 kV). Two …

X-Ray Powder diffraction is a non-destructive technique for phase- and Rietveld analysis of crystalline materials. It is used for the determination of detailed phase composition, quantitative Rietveld analysis, nanocrystallite-sizes, lattice parameters, amorphous content, and 1d-Mappings. The lab is equipped with an Empyrean powder X-Ray diffractometer (Panalytical), working in reflection (Bragg-Brentano) or transmission theta-theta geometry. It is equipped with a Cu-tube, a fast PIXcel 1d …