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Petrographic & Ore Microscopy Labs

Project Objectives

The Petrographic and Ore Microscopy Laboratories provide technical and scientific support to Mineral Resources Program team scientists and other team personnel. The labs are equipped with trained personnel who will both assist scientists or perform analyses for scientists. The Petrographic Lab provides rock crushing facilities, rock saws, lapidary equipment, separatory equipment, x-ray diffraction instrumentation as well as lab facilites for leaching studies, acid mine drainage experiments and the like. The Ore Microscopy Lab provides a facility where scientists can perform methods and procedures commonly used in ore miscroscopy, prepare polished sections, and examine and study specimens/samples by optical and x-ray methods.

Relevance & Impact

The Petrographic Lab is a multi-purpose laboratory that supports a variety of Mineral Resources Team initiatives. Lab personnel remain abreast of scientific techniques that are beneficial to Team projects. The purpose and direction of this lab changes over time, but the basic function of identifying and classifying rocks and minerals is the lab's major function.

The Ore Microscopy Lab is also a multi-purpose lab that augments the Petrographic Lab. The Ore Microscopy Lab provides team scientists with an equipped facility that will allow them to prepare samples for ore microscopy studies as well as identify specimens/samples as needed for their projects.