We are one of the few state geological surveys that has a strong analytical laboratory group. We operate facilities that can produce mineralogical, geochemical, and geochronological analyses on a wide range of materials. Most of our large collection of analytical equipment, whose collective value is in the millions of dollars, was purchased using federal, state, or private external funds. Our laboratories support geological research in New Mexico and beyond, by working with our employees, other researchers at New Mexico Tech, as well as at other universities or private entities. Our laboratories also contribute to the educational mission at New Mexico Tech and other academic institutions through support of student research projects, and classes on analytical methods. Our laboratories also provide hourly employment for a number of NMT students.
Complete apatite fission-track (AFT) dating facilities are available at the New Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources. We have a mineral separation lab for concentrating apatite and zircon, and we maintain facilities for mounting, polishing and etching the samples. We date the samples using the external detector method. We have a dedicated petrographic microscope with a stage fitted with a digital micrometer that allows easy, precise translation between the grain mount and the external detector.
The analytical chemistry laboratory, established in the early 1960s,
focuses primarily on inorganic water quality and environmental analyses.
The primary instruments in use include an inductively coupled plasma-mass
spectrometer, an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer,
and an ion chromatograph. Routine water analyses include trace metals,
such as arsenic and uranium, and major anions and cations, such as chloride,
sulfate and sodium. Please contact
the lab for more information about sample analysis and pricing.
We have facilities to characterize a variety of samples related to the hard-rock and industrial minerals industry. Testing capabilities include clay material testing, mineral separation, soil and rock characterization, gravimetric moisture content, ABA & NAG, slake durability, petrographic analysis, and PXRF.
A Cameca SX-100 electron microprobe came online at the Bureau of Geology in 1996.
Unlike bulk chemistry techniques, the electron microprobe is well suited
to non-destructive quantitative chemical analysis of very small spots
(as small as one micron) on a sample surface. The electron microprobe
can also produce fine-scale chemical maps of polished samples, and three-dimensional,
high-magnification Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of rough
sample surfaces.
Our argon laboratory, established in 1992,
utilizes a variation of the K-Ar (40Ar/39Ar) dating
method to determine highly precise ages for rocks and minerals. Rock
ages are important to geologic mapping efforts in helping to correlate
mappable rock units, and in determining the timing of folding and/or
faulting.
The Ore Deposits and Critical Minerals experimental laboratory (ODCM Lab) was established in the NMBGMR in Fall 2020 and is equipped to conduct hydrothermal fluid-rock experiments to study the stability of minerals and speciation of metals relevant to ore-forming processes at high temperatures. The ODCM Lab is currently supported by NSF and DOE grants with a focus on the properties of rare earth elements (REE) in hydrothermal aqueous fluids.
Our NSF-MRI-funded confocal Raman Spectroscopy Laboratory provides spectral analyses of solid, liquid, and gaseous compounds. Raman spectroscopy provides a characteristic fingerprint of a mineral, solid material, gaseous or liquid compound that can be used for compound identification and/or characterization. Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive method and therefore suitable for a broad type of samples as it can analyze powders, individual grains, minerals in rock or gem samples, thin and thick sections as well as liquids and gases. We are also able to provide 2-D and 3-D chemical mapping at the μ-scale ideally on planar surfaces of polished slabs or thin sections.
Our X-ray facility provides chemical, mineralogical, and crystallographic analyses in support of the research, educational, and public-service programs of the Bureau of Geology and New Mexico Tech. It also serves agencies and industries of New Mexico by providing analyses that cannot be obtained through commercial sources.
