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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 former Geologic Discipline as well as other scientific mission areas 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 USGS personnel and other researchers by agreement. For more information on the laboratory visit the Denver Microbeam Laboratory site.

Relevance & Impact

Examples of laboratory 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 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.

Project Chief:

Products

Presentations

• Schrader, C.M., Rickman, D.L., McLemore, C.A., Fikes, J.C., Stoeser, D.B., Wentworth, S.J., and McKay, D.S., 2009, Lunar Regolith Characterization for Simulant Design and Evaluation Using Figure of Merit Algorithms: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 89th Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings Volume, 7 p.

Reports and Articles

• Bern, A.M., Lowers, H.A., Meeker, G.P., and Rosati, J.A., 2009, Method development for analysis of urban dust using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry to detect the possible presence of World Trade Center dust constituents: Environmental Science and Technology, 43 (5), pp. 1449-1454.
• Cashman, K.V., Thornber, C.R., and Pallister, J.S., 2008, From Dome to Dust: Shallow Crystallization and Fragmentation of Conduit Magma During the 2004–2006 Dome Extrusion of Mount St. Helens, Washington, chap. 19 of Sherrod, D.R., Scott, W.E., and Stauffer, eds., A volcano rekindled; the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004–2006: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1750, 27 p.
• Desborough, G.A., Smith, K.S., Lowers, H.A., Swayze, G.A., Hammarstrom, J.M., Diehl, S.F., Leinz, R.W., and Driscoll, R.L., 2010, Mineralogical and chemical characteristics of some natural jarosites: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74 (3), pp. 1041-1056.
• Donovan, J.J., Lowers, H.A., and Rusk, B.G., 2011, Improved electron probe microanalysis of trace elements in quartz: American Mineralogist, 96 (2-3), pp. 274-282.
• Lowers, H.A. and Bern, A.M., 2009, Particle size characterization of water-elutriated Libby amphibole 2000 and RTI International amosite: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1242, 3 p.
• Lowers, H.A., Meeker, G.P., Lioy, P.J., and Lippmann, M., 2009, Summary of the development of a signature for detection of residual dust from collapse of the World Trade Center buildings: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 19 (3), pp. 325-335.
• Pallister, J.S., Thornber, C.R., Cashman, K.V., Clynne, M.A., Lowers, H.A., Mandeville, C.W., Brownfield, I.K., and Meeker, G.P., 2008, Petrology of the 2004–2006 Mount St. Helens Lava Dome—Implications for Magmatic Plumbing and Eruption Triggering, chap. 30 of Sherrod, D.R., Scott, W.E., and Stauffer, eds., A volcano rekindled; the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004–2006: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1750, 56 p.
• Rusk, B., Koenig, A., and Lowers, H., 2011, Visualizing trace element distribution in quartz using cathodoluminescence, electron microprobe, and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry: American Mineralogist, 96 (5-6), pp. 703-708.
• Rusk, B.G., Lowers, H.A., and Reed, M.H., 2008, Trace elements in hydrothermal quartz: relationships to cathodoluminescent textures and insights into vein formation: Geology, 36 (7), pp. 547-550.
• Thomas, M.A.., Diehl, S.F., Pletsch, B.A., Schumann, T.L., Pavey, R.R., and Swindford, E.M., 2008, Relation between solid-phase and dissolved arsenic in the ground-water system underlying northern Preble County, Ohio: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5205, 56 p.
• Thornber, C.R., Pallister, J.S., Lowers, H.A., Rowe, M.C., Mandeville, C.W., and Meeker, G.P., 2008, Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Petrology of Amphibole in Mount St. Helens 2004–2006 Dacite, chap. 32 of Sherrod, D.R., Scott, W.E., and Stauffer, eds., A volcano rekindled; the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004–2006: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1750, 28 p.
• Tripp, R.B., Benzel, W.M., Adams, D.T., Lowers, H.A., Lee, G.K., and Bailey, E.A., 2009, Europium-rich dark monazite – a potential new ore mineral for Alaska, USA?: Explorer, No. 145, pp. 1-10.