Research Equipment & Facilities

The Geology Department is home to analytical facilities and field equipment for use by students, faculty, and professional geologists.

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Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD) Analysis)
Remote Electron Microprobe
Sensors and Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIL)
Electronic Total Station

Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD) Analysis

The Department currently houses a Philips X’Pert MPD powder X-ray diffractometer in Cramer Hall. The instrument is capable of relatively quick, non-destructive analysis of crystalline samples.

PXRD Applications:

Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) is an analytical technique used to determine the following characteristics of crystalline materials:

phase identity
crystal structure
approximate percentage phase composition
lattice parameters

The samples must be homogeneous to provide proper resolution, which typically necessitates the conversion of a small amount of sample into a fine powder; at least 5g of sample are recommended for submission to PXRD analysis. The samples are exposed to X-ray radiation over a wide range of incident angles; the crystalline sample diffracts this radiation, and a detector receives the diffracted radiation and registers either constructive or destructive interferences between signals. Each distinct crystal system has a unique collection of diffractions; these patterns (diffractograms) serve as a mineral’s fingerprint and can be used to properly identify individual crystal phases within a sample, as well as the approximate contribution from each phase (percent composition).

Prospective Users:

Please contact Alexandra Franco (afranc2@pdx.edu) with the Geology Department for more information or to schedule an appointment to run an analysis. All samples submitted must be crystalline solids capable of being powdered, and all users are required to complete any necessary X-ray radiation safety training prior to analysis.

Remote Electron Microprobe

Since January of 2005, we have a dedicated 4-screen terminal hub with which we can remotely operate the state-of-the-art SX100 CAMECA electron microprobe housed by Oregon State University in Corvallis via fast internet. Before the establishment of the REM-Lab, everybody in need of microprobe data on minerals or glasses needed to drive to Corvallis - the nearest microprobe from PSU - in order to directly operate the microprobe and to acquire the desired data. With the REM-Lab in place, we can analyze our samples with the microprobe at OSU directly from PSU. The advantages are obvious. We no longer spend 3-4 hours in the car for a roundtrip to Corvallis and thus conserve time and gas. But more importantly, we can devote more time to the actual analytical procedures such as selecting analysis points.

The establishment of the REM lab was made possible by a OSU-PSU collaborative National Science Foundation grant. The grant mainly included the purchase of a new electron microprobe but the REM-Lab component was an important part for us.

Standard procedures include sending thin sections to be analyzed to OSU a few days before the analytical session. The actual analytical session starts with calling the microprobe Lab at OSU and to log on. From that moment on, PSU operators are independent during calibration and analysis unless a sample change is required. OSU personnel exchange samples when desired.

During the period 2005-2009, we used the REM-Lab ~80 days (mostly on a 24-hour basis) acquiring an estimated amount of about 15,000 analysis points on major and accessory minerals as well as on glasses and metals. The main users of the facility are Drs Streck, Ruzicka, and Hutson (all PSU Geology) and their students. The REM-Lab plays a vital role in bringing state-of-the-art electron microprobe analysis to PSU. We were the first in the country to fully implement a dedicated lab to the cause of controlling remotely an electron microprobe.

Sensors and Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIL)

This is an undergraduate teaching laboratory that houses sensors that are used in a variety of courses. Equipment consistes of a collection of Vernier(R) sensors and data loggers, Hobo(R) data loggers, BASICStamp microcontroller sensor kits, and miscellaneous sensors and data loggers.

Funding for the equipment came from Student Lab Fees and a technology grant from PSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the University Studies Program.

Large Setups:

Flume
Terrarium for environmental monitoring
Stream table
Mountin Glacier model (using flubber as a surrogate for ice)

Vernier Equipment:

1 Low G accelerometer
6 Temperature Probes (Vernier Interface)
4 Temperature Probes (USB interface)
1 Long-Cable Temperature Probe
6 Turbidity Sensors
4 Motion Dectectors (Vernier Interface)
2 Motion Detectors (USB Interface
6 Current Probes
6 Voltage Probes
7 Magnetic Sensors
6 pH Sensors
1 Spectrometer
6 Soil Mosture Probes
2 Flow meters
6 Conductivity probe
7 Light Sensor
6 UVB Sensors
4 GO-Interfaces (converts Vernier Interface to USB interface for sensor use on a PC)
1 Hand Held Heart Rate Monitor
1 Blood Pressure Monitor
1 EKG Monitor
1 Spirometer
1 Oxygen Gas Concentration Monitor
1 Oxidation-Reduction Potential Probe
1 Colorimeter
1 Stream Flow Meter
1 Microphone
1 Gas Pressure Sensor
1 Motion Detector
1 Dual Range Force Sensor
1 Digital Radiation Monitor
11 Labquest Data Collectors

Other Equipment:

1 Relative Humidity Sensor (Hobo)
20 Relative Humidity Sensor (Hobo)
10 Environmental Sensor Kits for BASIC Stamp
10 Radio Shack Sensor Kits
2 3-axis Analog Devices Accelrometers
National Instruments A/D converters
National Instruments LabView
DataQ A/D Converter and data logger

Electronic Total Station

The National Science Foundation (NSF DUE-96-50263) assisted Portland State University in purchasing a series of six Total Stations for use in undergraduate courses and for graduate research. The equipment purchase was supported by NSF, Department of Geology, Office for Graduate Studies and Sponsored Research, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the School of Engineering. We also wish to acknowledge Sokkia Corporation for a discount on the equipment.

Available Equipment

The following is a list of equipment available in the Geology Department. You can use this for planning the equipment you may need for field work. See Gene Pierson about making arrangements to use the equipment. You should have had proper instruction on care and use of the instrument before taking it to the field.

GPS:

Trimble 12 Channel Community Base Station
Trimble GeoExplorer II
Trimble Pathfinder software (for differential correction)
II Morrow 6 Channel Handheld GPS reciever, with software for differential correction (others are available from the Geography and Environmental Sciences Departments
Garmin GR-45 handheld reciever with GBR-21 reciever with 6' antenna for real-time differential correction (see Curt Peterson. Best for Coastal work).

Total Stations / Theodolites / Plane Tables:

1 × Sokkia SET 5A Total Station (5-second theodolite)
6 × Sokkia SET 4B_II Total Stations (5-second theodolite, 5 mm + 3 ppm EDM, Single prism range: 1.2 km)
1 × Sokkia SET 2B_II Total Station (1-second theodolite, 3 mm + 2 ppm EDM, Single prism range: 2.4 km)
6 × SDR-33 Expert Electronic Field Notebooks (640 Kb)
1 × SDR-33 Standard Electronic Field Notebooks (256 Kb)
1 × Wild T-2 1 second theodolite
5 × K&E Alidades / Tripods / Plane tables / rods (feet)

Distance Meters:

1 × Sokkia RED-2 EDM.
1 × Pentax EDM

Level:

1 × Sokkia B2₁ Level (1.5 mm / Km using double-run methods)
2 × 7.6 m fiberglass level rods

Prisms/Prism Mounts:

11 × Sokkia AP-01 -40mm prisms
7 × WA Tribracs
7 × Tribrac adapters with optical plummet for mounting reflectors
9 × Sokkia AP-01 tilting prism holders with targets
1 × AP-03 Triple Prism mount
2 × Triple Prism assemblies with -30mm offset reflectors
1 × -30mm / 0mm offset single prism with target

Tripods/Prism Poles

12 × Wide wooden tripods
1 × Fiberglass Tripod
12 × Adjustable prism poles