The Electron Microprobe Lab houses a JEOL JXA-8500F electron microprobe that is equipped with a field-emission cathode, five wavelength-dispersive X-Ray spectrometers, and an energy-dispersive spectrometer. Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) is mainly used to quantitatively investigate the chemical composition of rocks and mineral phases in the micrometer to centimeter range.
Typically, polished sections of rocks or minerals are used for this purpose, but highly vacuum-resistant fossil …

The Sample Analysis Laboratory (SAL) provides a comprehensive range of instrumentation for structural, geochemical, mineralogical and elemental analysis at one location in a clean room environment allowing efficient analysis with a minimal disturbance to sensitive material. The research focus is on extraterrestrial material in the form of meteorites and returned samples, as well as analogue material for planetary research.