Carbonate Petrology and Characterization Laboratory

  • High-temperature laboratory experiments provide insights into dolomite kinetics.

  • A graduate student performs high-precision measurements

    High-precision measurements of mass are required to control experimental variables.

  • A graduate student performs X-ray diffraction

    X-ray diffraction analysis allows detailed characterization of the mineralogy of crystalline samples.

  • High-resolution imaging and elemental mapping is accomplished using SEM-EDS.

  • X-ray fluorescence provides rapid elemental analysis of geological materials.

Carbonate Petrology & Characterization Lab (CPCL)

The Carbonate Petrology and Characterization Laboratory (CPCL) a part of the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Western Michigan University. The CPCL is a collaborative research facility headed by Dr. Stephen Kaczmarek. The CPCL is equipped with various laboratory and analytical instruments for materials characterization and experimental petrology.

For more information about service and rate, please visit us at: https://www.researchdolomite.com/facilities

Instrumentation

  • XRD 2nd Generation Bruker D2 Phaser X-ray Diffractometer
    • Mineralogical characterization of carbonate rock and mineral samples
  • SEM-EDS JEOL-JSM-IT100LA Scanning Electron Microscope w/EDS
    • High-resolution imaging and elemental detection with spatial mapping
  • XRF Bruker Elemental Tracer IV-SD System portable XRF Analyzer
    • Elemental characterization of rock and mineral samples
  • TSP Zeiss AxioPlan 2 Petrographic Microscope with digital camera
    • Thin-section characterization of sedimentary rocks
  • High-resolution digital scanner
    • Slabbed core and thin section imaging 

Miscellaneous laboratory instrumentation

  • Teflon-lined, acid-digestion (23 ml capacity) autoclaves (Parr Instruments)
  • Heratherm (Thermo Scientific) high-precision density convection ovens
  • Metler-Toledo XSE104 high-precision electronic balances
  • Eppendorf 5417C centrifuge

Research partnerships