MicroAnalysis Facility
The INCO Innovation Centre houses a state of the art MicroAnalysis
Facility (MAF-IIC), which is a satellite of the CREAIT network at Memorial.
Instrumentation and laboratories in MAF-IIC includes:
- Finnigan Neptune multicollector and ELEMENT-XR single collector magnetic sector ICP-MS instruments coupled to a GeoLas deep-UV (193 nm) argon-fluorine excimer laser ablation (LA) system for high-resolution isotope studies (Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni, Sr, Nd, Hf, Os, Pb), ultra-precise precious metal analyses and in situ accessory mineral U-Th-Pb geochronology.
- FEI Quanta 400 Scanning Electron Microscope/JKMRC Mineral Liberation Analyzer (SEM/MLA) for high resolution imaging and automated, quantitative mineralogy. Includes an electron back-scattered diffraction system for mineral scale crystal structure analysis.
- Small-format Cameca 4f ion microprobe (SIMS) for ion imaging and in situ measurements of light stable isotopes (C, O, S) and trace elements.
- Class 100 clean chemistry lab, acid distillation units, microbalances, high-pressure microwave, hydroseparation device, core and rock storage and sample preparation areas.
The IIC/AIF project provided seed money for the development of the
MAF-IIC in order to carry out research
programs.
