X-ray Facility
Lab Manager: Chris McKee
The NMBGMR X-ray facility provides chemical, mineralogical, and crystallographic analyses in support of the research, educational, and public-service programs of the NMBGMR and New Mexico Tech. It also serves agencies and industries of New Mexico by providing analyses that cannot be obtained through commercial sources.
The X-ray facility provides two kinds of analytical services, chemical analyses of solid materials by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy and mineralogical/ crystallographic analyses of solid materials by X-ray diffraction (XRD). These facilities provide both highly accurate quantitative analyses and rapid qualitative analyses.
XRF spectrometry is the method of choice for rapid chemical analysis of solids and for especially accurate analysis of rocks. XRF analyses of very broad scope are achieved by the lab's spectrometer. For example, XRF spectrometry has been used to determine lead in the paint of refurbished low-income housing in Las Cruces, chemical fingerprints of archaeological materials, radioactive elements in earth materials, trace elements for mineral exploration and basic geochemical studies, special analyses for environmental studies, and the compositions of thin ceramic films. XRD is used to determine the crystalline composition and many crystalline properties of materials such as rocks and minerals, soils, metals, and ceramics. It is employed extensively for rapid identification of earth materials and crystalline phases in alloys, composites, and ceramics. Education is a very important aspect of the X-ray facility. The Earth & Environmental Science Department uses the instruments to teach courses in clay mineralogy and XRF spectroscopy. Many professors and graduate students conduct research in this lab. We estimate that 75% of the hands-on use of the equipment is by graduate and undergraduate students of New Mexico Tech.
New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801-4796
information: (575) 835-5420
fax: (575) 835-6333
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu
The New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources is a research and service division of:
