Victoria University
Electron Microprobe
Mass Spectrometer
Plasma Asher
X-ray Spectrometer
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Microanalysis facility users
Microanalysis Facility
School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand
The Microanalysis Facility supports scientific research and
teaching by analysing and imaging small objects.An automated JEOL 733 Electron Microprobe can image and analyse samples such as petrographic slides of rocks and minerals, tephras, fossil plants and animals, meteorites, metals, ceramics, soils, muds, and sands.
A Dycor mass spectrometer is used to analyse gases from a wide range of samples, including liquids and solids. A platinum furnace is used to heat solid samples for evolved gas analysis. Gases dissolved in water can be directly measured. The mass spectrometer is portable and is sometimes used off site to solve industrial problems.
A small plasma ashing system removes organic material from samples by ashing them at room temperature.
An Amptek X123 X-ray spectrometer has been mounted on an Equipoise lamp arm along with a 1 µC 241Am source from a domestic smoke alarm. This allows X-ray Fluorescence spectra to be observed from various objects without altering or touching them.
A Leica Aristophot camera stand is used for high resolution transmitted and incident light digital photography of small objects. Whole slide imaging using circular polarised light can give some information on the orientation of mineral grains.
Electron Microprobe bookings can be made either by email, telephoning or by entering a name and a block of time on the wall chart in Cotton 402.
Updated March 2008 - john.patterson@vuw.
ac.nz