Oregon State University, CorvallisCollege of Science - Dept. of GeosciencesCollege of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences - Marine Geology |
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Introduction
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The Department of Geosciences has a diverse group of faculty and students working on petrology, ore geology and volcanology. There is close collaboration with faculty in the marine geology group in the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, where many of the analytical facilities are housed. If you join us for coffee at the Beanery (coffee house) across the street at about 10 A.M., you're likely to run into anywhere from 3 to 15 "VIPERS" (members of the Volcanology, Igneous Petrology and Economic Research group).
Research projects of faculty and students alike are multifaceted,
including a variety of field, dating, geochemical and experimental
techniques. Facilities that are most used by faculty and students of
the VIPER group are the Cameca SX-100 electron microprobe, the ICP-MS
facility that includes in-situ laser ablation capacity, 40Ar-39Ar
dating facility, oxygen isotope silicate extraction line, noble gas
isotope analytical lab, and a TRIGA reactor for neutron activation
analysis. Most of these facilities are used on a cooperative basis
with other groups on campus. All said, most elements of geological
If you are interested in graduate studies please contact OSU Geosciences or any of the faculty listed below.
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Research Foci
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VIPERs
are involved in a wide range of research involving igneous and
hydrothermal systems. The following is a general list, contact
individuals for more information:
(Grunder, Tepley, de Silva, Kent, Nielsen; Bloomer) (Dilles) |
Faculty
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Graduate Students
Current
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Recently Completed
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Facilities
Plasma ICP-MS and Multicollector ICP-MS Labs
The Keck
collaboratory in College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences (COAS) has
been jointly funded by the Keck Foundation, NSF, and OSU's COAS and
College of Science (Department of Geosciences). It consists of
computer-interfaced and driven facilities, including two ICP-MS
instruments (a VG Excel model quadrupole and a VG Axiom high-resolution
instrument), one ICP emission spectrometer, and a 193 nm Excimer laser
with New Wave/Merchantek optics/video and computer control (see below).
A Nu multicollector (9 collectors with 18% amu mass range) ICP-MS
intrument, which was installed in March, 2003, provides high resolution
isotopic capabilities. Adam Kent (Geosciences) has developed a set of
working solid standards for Laser Ablation-ICP-MS, including NIST
glasses and USGS sulfide, phosphate, and carbonates doped with trace
elements.
Geochemical labs are housed in both COAS (including a Class II clean lab), and Geosciences and have for sample dissolution facilities for rocks and minerals (including a 14 cell microwave digestion unit). See more details at http://wmkeck-icpms.coas.oregonstate.edu/. For information on laser ablation see here or email Adam Kent
Electron
microbeam analyzer lab (Cameca SX-100, purchased 2003).
The Oregon State University Electron Microprobe Laboratory, located in
Burt 150, utilizes and maintains a Cameca SX-100 Electron Microprobe
equipped with 5 wavelength dispersive spectrometers (WDS) and one energy
dispersive spectrometer (EDS) with thin window for light element
detection. The probe has high intensity dispersive crystals for high
sensitivity trace element analysis, and a high precision sample stage
with 0.1 um stepping capability. The probe is equipped with Cameca Peak
Site analysis and imaging software. The SX-100 is capable of
quantitative analyses from Z = 4 (Be) to 92 (U) uranium. It has the
capability for high-resolution elemental mapping and trace element
analysis at low concentrations (generally to 100’s of ppm). The probe
has a high speed back scattered electron (BSE) imaging system,
transmitted and reflected light imaging, and automated calibration and
analysis. The Electron Microprobe Laboratory maintains a wide range of
in-house calibration standards for quantitative analyses of silicates,
sulfides, carbonates, oxides, and alloys. For more information, contact
Frank Tepley
Sample
prep & photography
The Dept of Geosciences houses standard rock crushing, sawing, and
mineral separations labs. Petrographic microscopes (transmitted &
reflected with standard photography are available), and was outfitted in
2002 with a Nikon DX-100 (12 Megapixel) digital camera and computer
interface with imaging software.
Vacuum
lines for O, S, & H extraction from rocks and minerals
The Dept of Geosciences houses vacuum lines (Dilles and Grunder) for
extraction of oxygen via laser fluorination using ClF3 and a CO2 laser,
and conversion of O2 to CO2 for isotopic analysis. They also maintain a
vacuum line for extraction of hydrogen (U-reduction) from minerals and
fluids for isotopic analyses, and a vacuum extraction line that allows
extraction of sulfur from sulfides for isotopic analyses.
Stable
Isotope Lab
Alan Mix (OSU-COAS) operates and maintains three gas-source mass
spectrometers, including Finnigan 251 and 252 for static mode, and a
Delta Plus for Continuous Flow mode (purchased by NSF, Mix et al., ).
The latter has C, H, N, and S isotope capabilities via a Carlo Erba
EA/GC that has both an oxidation furnace (for organic C, H, & S) and
reduction furnace for organic (N). NSF funds will allow purchase in 2003
of a Finnigan TC/EA (carbon reduction 1500°C) furnace for analysis of H,
O, and C isotopes from a variety of sulfate, carbonate, and hydrous
minerals). This instrument would interface with the existing Delta Plus
CF mass spectrometer.
USGS-type gas flow fluid inclusion heating/freezing stage and Vernadsky high temperature stage, Olympus BX-60 microscope, and video system. The Vernadsky stage is designed for heating and rapid quenching of melt inclusions.
Ar-Ar
dating lab
Operated and maintained by Professor Robert Duncan, COAS. Includes
vacuum line, Ta furnace & UV laser heating systems, and getters inline
with a gas source mass spectrometer for Ar-Ar isotopic analyses.
He isotope
lab Vacuum extraction lines and a mass spectrometer
Operated and maintained by Dr. David Graham and Dr. John Lupton at the
COAS facility in Newport, OR.
Noble
gas mass spectrometry
A new facility (May 2008) designed for isotopic analysis of noble gas
samples from rock, ice and water samples. Run by Dave Graham and Ed
Brook.
Ore
deposits hand sample and mineral collection
Maintained by John Dilles and incorporates C.W. Field collection; it
includes samples from more than 30 porphyry copper deposits of the
American Cordillera, as well as numerous other ore deposits.
Maintained by Adam Kent (adam.kent<at>geo.oregonstate.edu). Last updated 7/2008