Acid digestions of solid samples for main and trace element analysis are carried out in a modern digestion laboratory with special digestors that are also suitable for working with hydrofluoric and perchloric acid. The samples can be prepared as open digestions using the DigiPrep heating block system (SCP Science) or as closed digestions using the Multiwave 5000 microwave reaction platform (Anton Paar).
The Vitriox Electric 4+ fusion unit from Fluxana is available for the production of glass …

Jaw crushers are available for crushing rocks and other geological samples. Various mills (vibrating disc mill, McCrone mill) are available for further processing, which pulverize the granulates for further analysis.

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 …

LA-ICP-MS is a micro-destructive technique which enables the in situ analysis of elements and isotope ratios across the periodic table at very high scanning speeds and with very low detection limits. The 8900 ICP-QQQ is able to utilize reactive cell gases to resolve difficult spectral interferences. Samples: rock sections (max. 10 x 10 cm), 1 and 1/2 inch rounds; Spot size: 1 - 155 μm

The Rigaku SmartLab is a multipurpose X-Ray diffractometer system equipped with a high-flux 9kW rotating Cu anode and a 2D-detector. The X-Y-Z table holds samples up to 20 kg in weight and allows mappings on samples with a dimension of up to 87 x 100 mm. The device can be used for powder diffraction and for µ-spot analysis on different types of rock sections. Samples: Rock powders, sections up to 20 kg and 87 x 100 mm; Spot size: 100 μm / 300 μm / 500 μm

Bruker M4 Tornado is an energy-dispersive micro-X-Ray fluorescence spectrometer for the spatially resolved analysis of elements with atomic numbers from 11 (sodium). The device can analyze a wide range of samples such as large, inhomogeneous samples such or small particles. The M4 is equipped with capillary optics that realize spot sizes of 20 or 150 μm. Samples: rock sections or crystals, max. 190 x 160 mm; Spot size: 20 μm / 150 μm

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 …

A special grinding laboratory enables the production of thin sections of various rock types. Precision saws in various sizes, a grinding machine (MPS), a lapping machine (Logitec) and a polishing machine are available for this.

The wavelength dispersive X-Ray fluorescence spectrometer S8 Tiger 4 KW (Bruker) enables the detection of major and trace elements in one run. The chemical composition of rocks, minerals, ore and soil samples, and building materials can be measured in the form of powder tablets and glass beads at the lower ppm-level. Our element spectrum ranges from elements with mass 9 (F) to 92 (U).