We regularly collaborate with other research institutions and industry partners. When capacity allows, we do offer analytical services commercially, please contact james.utley@liverpool.ac.uk to enquire for the services listed below.
XRD
X-Ray Diffraction (preparation facilities and instrument in Jane Herdman Labs).
Analysis of rock, sediment, soil, minerals and synthetic materials. Used to identify and quantify crystalline phases, particularly useful for the analysis of clay rich samples.
Bulk analysis of random powders, grain size separations, oriented clay size fraction. Chemical and heat treatments to aid identification of complex clay minerals.
Samples from as small as 50mg can be analysed thanks to the use of special Silicon discs, though standard analysis requires 5+g of representative material.
XRF
Benchtop WD-XRF (preparation facilities in Jane Herdman Labs, Instrument in CTL).
Analysis of rock, sediment, soil, minerals, aqueous samples, metals and synthetic materials. Used to identify and quantify a very wide range of chemical elements (F – U). Samples can be presented as solid pieces, powders, powders pressed into pellet form, glass beads, and aqueous samples dried onto filter papers.
Portable ED-XRF (instruments in both Jane Herdman Labs and CTL).
Quick and easy, no sample preparation required. Precision and accuracy more limited than WD-XRF.
STA
Simultaneous Thermal Analysis, a combination of Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (instrument in Jane Herdman Labs).
Analysis of rock, sediment, soil, minerals, metals and synthetic materials. Used to identify and quantify phases and phase transitions in both crystalline and amorphous materials. The formation, transformation, and breakdown of chemical bonds is observed through mass changes and heat/energy flow. The analysis can be carried out under oxidising or inert atmosphere.
High Resolution Optical Microscopy (Jane Herdman Labs)
A set of Olympus optical microscopes providing the following analytical facilities:
Optical petrology, crystallography and imaging of thin sections; point counting (textural characterisation and quantification of thin sections); fluid inclusion analysis (allows insights into the thermal and geochemical history of rocks).
Geochemistry Preparation Laboratory (Jane Herdman Labs)
A wide variety of sample preparation facilities, including:
Fume cupboards, centrifuges, automatic hydraulic pellet press, ultrasonic baths, ovens and furnaces, water sample filtration, organic removal (e.g. LPSA), grain size separation, clay size-fraction separation and orientation (XRD), vacuum resin-impregnation (e.g. SEM), automated diamond polishing (SEM).
Rock Crushing (Jane Herdman Labs)
A comprehensive suite of sample crushing equipment, including:
Hydraulic rock splitter, jaw crusher, disc mill, ball mill (e.g. XRF), micronizing mill (XRD), agate and ceramic pestle and mortar sets.
This suite allows the reduction of large hand specimens down to single digit micron particle sizes. Most equipment has a choice of crushing/milling media to avoid problematic contamination, for example: Steel, Nickel, Tungsten Carbide, Agate.