Analytical Tools
Some of the equipment is kept in cabinets, so if something is listed and you can't find it, it may be put away somewhere. The replacement cost or purchase cost is listed; in cases where the original cost is given, you can approximate today's replacement cost by doubling the cost for each 10 years of age. Links to the equipment indicates that a tutorial for that item is available.
| Name |
Description |
|---|---|
GPS Units |
Several GPS units including pocket units as well as some larger more powerful units. They cost $200 to several thousand dollars each. |
Scanner |
A flatbed scanner hooked up to Krakatoa, A Macintosh G-4. |
Digitizer |
A 4' by 5' Calcomp digitizer which can be interfaced to either a Mac or PC. |
Current Meters |
Several models, some electronic and some mechanical. Used for finding the velocity of current in a stream or river. Electronic current meters cost about $3000 each in 1996. |
Cathodoluminescence Scope |
A machine for illuminating minerals in thin sections in a new and different way which is useful for differentiating and highlighting certain minerals. Cost in 1997 about $20,575. |
Fritsch Automatic Mortar and Pestle |
A motorized agate mortar and pestle used for preparation of samples for x-ray and other chemical analyses. Cost in 1997 $4635. |
Ion Chromatograph |
This instrument is capable of achieving sensitive, accurate results for anions, cations, organic acis or amines. Cost in 2000 $34000. |
Plane Tables and Alidades |
Traditional equipment for drawing scale maps of an area in the field with paper and pencil, used before computers were commonplace. Cost about $1000 per setup. |
X-Ray Diffractometer |
Used for identifying minerals in rock and sediment samples. Has a reference database for matching unknowns with known minerals. People are trained how to use the XRD in Mineralogy class. Cost $97,165 in 1987. |
X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer |
Used for identifying and quantifying chemical elements in a rock sample. This is a very powerful machine but requires training to use. People learn how to use it in Mineralogy or Geochemistry class. Cost $192,000 in 1986. |
SPEX Fluxy automatic fluxer |
For making fused beads for XRF anaylsis. Cost in 1996 was $18,000. |
EDX Analyser |
Oxford model 7021. Mounted on a scanning electron microscope and used for mapping and analysing rock samples. Cost $113,000 in 2005. |
Automatic Levels |
Telescopic levels for field mapping. Allow you to sight a level line for perhaps a quarter mile. Used for making maps, beginning in Geomorphology class. Cost $600 in 1996. |
Rock Saws |
There are two rock saws in the Dirty Work Room. They are intended mainly for cutting samples and making thin section chips, but you may use them to cut personal samples as well. Bookend type rocks are not recommended though, since they tend to be huge and wear down the blades a lot. The large rock saw cost $552 in 1976 and the small one cost $738 in 1986. |
Vi-Bro-Lap Rock Polisher |
For polishing large rock slabs to show off the structures within. Cost $1200 in 1998. It's Clint's baby. |
Sieves |
For analyzing sediment samples. Cost range from $38 for the normal everyday mesh sizes to $200 for the very fine and very coarse ones. |
Ro-Tap Sieve Shaker |
This machine will shake a set of sieves in a way that is predictable and reproducible for processing multiple samples in a sedimentology study. 1996 cost $1570. |
Rock Crusher and Grinders |
There are three rock grinders for reducing rock samples to a powder. They are not difficult to use, but can be hazardous if misused and you must receive instruction before you use them. Since they are for use in chemical analyses, they have to be thoroughly cleaned between each sample. Used in geochemistry for X-Ray Fluorescence and other procedures requiring powdered samples. Costs: large ball mill $9300 in 1986; Spex 8000-D Mixer Mill $3998 in 1994; Spex Jaw Crusher $3000 in 1994. |
Large Ultrasonic Cleaner |
A large sink-size ultrasonic cleaner for removing particulate matter from fossils and other samples. This machine is easy to use but easily damaged if you turn it on without water in it, so please do not turn it on unless you have had some instruction about it. Cost $1500 in 1976. |
Frantz Isodynamic Separator |
A magnetic separator for powdered mineral samples. Allows separation of heavy or metallic minerals from the sample without using toxic heavy liquids. This machine was originally purchased in the 1940's but was upgraded to modern standards in 1995. Replacement cost in 1995 is $16,000. |
Thin Section Equipment |
There are several grinding laps and one "thin section machine" for preparation of thin sections. Thin sections are slices of rock or fossil mounted on a glass slide and ground to 30 microns thickness. You may learn how to use these in petrology or paleontology classes. Initially it can take several hours per thin section to make them, but with practice you can make them in an hour or so. Replacement cost around $3000 per machine in 1996. |
Engineering Seismograph |
A twelve channel, digitally recording seismograph used to find the depth to bedrock or another hard layer in the ground. Uses a sledge hammer to generate seismic waves and you analyze the patterns of the refracted return waves to figure out the depth to bedrock. Requires training, and each seismic sounding takes 30-60 minutes to do. Cost $20,000 in 2000. |
Earth Resistivity Meter |
An electronic instrument for mapping soil or rock anomalies in the ground. The process involves placement of 4 or 5 electrodes in the ground and passing an electric current between them, measuring the voltage drop per unit of distance of ground covered. Can be used to identify old foundations, buried river valleys, plumes of pollution in the ground water, or changes in the soil or water table. Cost $2000 in 1977. |
Magnetometer |
Another electronic instrument for measuring anomalies in the ground based on the ground's magnetic susceptibility. Uses are similar to the resistivity meter. Cost $4500 in 1988. |
Rock Drill |
Gasoline powered drill for getting an oriented core of a rock unit in the field. The cores are about an inch in diameter and up to several inches long. Can be backpacked if you are energetic. Cost $1600 in 2000. |
Dissolved Oxygen Meter |
For assessing the oxygen content of water in lakes and streams. Cost $629 in 1996. |
Conductivity Meter |
For assessing the level of dissolved solids in lakes and rivers. Cost $915 in 1996. |
Coffee Pot |
Keeps us going with hot water for tea, coffee and cocoa, night and day. Is usually on a timer so it doesn't run needlessly when no one is likely to be around. If you notice it getting empty, please fill it with water. Thanks. Cost $40 in 1995; the best productivity investment we've made. |
F-71 Stereoscopes |
Viewers for looking at pairs of aerial photos; these are the items in the Army-green cases. Cost in 1996 is $722. |
Binocular Microscopes |
For examining rock samples and other small objects. We have a number of utility scopes in the classrooms and one research-quality binocular microscope in the Optics Lab which has attachments for sketching, photography, and transmitted light. Cost $700 in 1974. |
Zoom Transfer Scope |
An optical instrument for overlaying two opaque pictures such as maps and air photos. The view of one of the objects may be rotated, stretched or enlarged so that it fits onto the other object. This can be used to transfer map information to an air photo or vice versa. Cost $5600 in 1976. |
Collection of photographic slides |
Slides to illustrate lectures; the collection consists of approximately 7000 slides with replacement values of $1 to $2 each. |
Dana Collection of Minerals |
Approximately 4000 mineral samples from all over the world. Used for mineralogy class and as a reference set. Values vary widely up to perhaps $100 a specimen. |
Fossil Collection |
Approximately 3000 fossils used as a reference set and for paleontology and other classes. Values vary widely from very little to several hundred dollars per specimen. |
Rock Collection |
Over 2000 rocks of various compositions. Used as a reference set for many classes. Values mostly several dollars per rock sample. |
Rock Suites |
Small collections of rocks representing interesting assemblages from various localities. Values mostly several dollars per rock sample. |
Crystal structure models |
For demonstrating crystal structures, defects, systems etc in classes. Costs vary; most are $100 to $350 each. |
Drying Ovens |
Ovens that are roughly a cubic half meter in volume. For heating and drying samples to about 200 degrees C. Cost $577 in 1996. |
High Temperature Oven |
An oven that will heat a sample to 1200 degrees C. Cost $1195 in 1996. |
Balances |
Several types of balances ranging from simple beam balances to various electronic balances for weighing samples. Some models are portable but less sensitive. The more sensitive models cost over $1000 each; the simpler portable ones are about $100 each. |
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer |
An instrument for determining the concentration of a given element in a sample. Can analyze for one element at a time with parts per million accuracy. You make standards with known concentrations of the element in question and the machine compares the samples with unknown concentrations to the standards of known concentrations to figure out the concentration of the element in the samples. Requires training to use. Cost $15,000 in 1988. |
"Roto Torque" Mixer |
A machine upon which you can mount several test tubes or other sample containers. The machine rotates and agitates the samples for the length of time and speed you set for good mixing. Cost $350 in 1983. |
Petrographic Microscopes |
For looking at thin sections of rocks. Some of the scopes have extra capabilities such as dual viewing, photography, etc. Cost about $9000 for a basic petrographic scope plus $2000 for dual viewing attachment. The Nikon research microscope cost $22,000 (a demonstrator we got at about a 30% discount) in 1988. |
Mechanical Stage |
An accessory to the petrographic microscopes for systematic sampling of specimens in thin sections. Used for mineralogical analysis of rocks. Cost about $600. |
"Swift" Automatic Point Counter |
A mechanical stage which is automated for faster working. Cost $5176 in 1996. |
Universal Stage |
An attachment for a petrographic microscope which enables the petrologist to determine the orientation of individual grains in a thin section. Used mostly for structural geology research projects. Cost $8139 in 1991. |
Cargo Trailer |
For transporting baggage on geology field trips. Also has been used as a venue for artistic expression. Cost $2200 in 1983. |
Canoes |
Six aluminum canoes for research projects in wilderness areas or rivers. On a trailer. Cost $750 each in 1990. |
Duck Boat |
Aluminum flat-bottomed boat useful where a stable working platform is needed in studies on lakes. While the boat is designed for an outboard motor, the current propulsion system involves oars and biceps. Cost $500 in 1970's. |
