Facilities

My research group has access to facilities throughout the MUN CREAIT Network and my group utilizes various solution and microbeam methods, including the SEM and EPMA in the Hibernia Electron Beam Facility, solution ICP-MS in the Metal Detector Laboratory, and TIMS, as well as SEM-MLA, SIMS, fluid inclusion lab, and LA-ICP-MS/LA-MC-ICP-MS in the Microanalysis Facility.

My own research group specific instrumentation includes a Nikon LV100POL polarizing microscope with transmitted and reflected light capabilities,a differential interference contrast (Nomarski interference) system with digital image capture capabilities. I also have a second Nikon E50 polarizing microscope with transmitted and reflected light capabilities and digital image capture capabilities. In addition, there is also a Nikon AZ100 wide-angle, lower power, polarizing microscope with transmitted and reflected light capabilities, and with a digital camera attachment and associated software for image capture.

My group also has a portable TerraSpec Infrared Spectrometer from ASD Inc.  The instrument is equipped with a Hi-Brite Contact Probe and a desktop Hi-Brite Muglight. We use this instrument extensively in our work on the composition and mineral footprints associated with hydrothermal ore systems (e.g., Cloutier and Piercey, 2020).

My group also has access to a field portable Olympus-Innov-X X5000 bench top portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) unit. The instrument is a bench top instrument with higher power than hand-held instruments, and allows for utilization of a 3-beam analysis coupled with a large area silicon drift detector (SDD). This allows for the analysis of many major and trace elements and provide semi-quantitative to quantitative data on-site and in real time in a variety of media, including soils, rocks, tills, and other materials (e.g., alloys). This method is also non-destructive method and allows for the screening of samples for subsequent higher precision analysis. Various algorithms for data processing and calibration (i.e., lithogeochemistry, surficial materials, high metal-bearing samples) have been created in-house by my research group and I (e.g., Piercey and Devine, 2014).