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SEM Microprobe Laboratories

Project Objectives

The Denver Microbeam Laboratory is an analytical facility operated by the USGS Geologic Discipline. The laboratory specializes in microanalysis of rocks, minerals, and other materials from a wide variety of applications. The laboratory supports programs within the Geologic Discipline as well as other Disciplines within the USGS, and other Federal and State agencies. The laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art microanalytical instrumentation for basic and applied research in the geosciences and related fields. The laboratory is open to all Discipline personnel and other researchers by agreement. For more information on the laboratory go to http://usgsprobe.cr.usgs.gov/

Relevance & Impact

Examples of these activities include providing analysis and expert assistance to the Department of Justice, development of analytical reference materials and analytical methods for the EPA, characterization of soils from Iraq for the U.S. Army, and characterization of mine waste samples from Zambia in collaboration with the U.S. EPA and the World Bank. Other recent research activities include the study of the 2004 eruption products from Mount St. Helens in collaboration with the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, development of a fingerprint, analytical methods, and analytical reference materials, for identification of dust generated by the collapse of the World Trade Center, and identification and characterization of atypical asbestiform amphiboles from an EPA superfund site in Libby, Montana.