Laboratories

USGS scientists collect core samples from estuaries, lakes, coasts, and marine environments to study a range of physical and chemical properties preserved in sediments over time. They process and analyze these core samples in the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Core Labs.

Learn more about the Core Scanning Laboratory at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

Learn about the Core Splitting Lab at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

We store sediment cores, along with other sediment, plant, and microfossil samples, in a large, walk-in refrigerated room that features library-style rolling shelving for efficient storage and easy access to all cores. All samples are cataloged and cross-referenced to their field activity ID, which provides the metadata about the samples.

Learn about the inorganic and trace inorganic geochemistry laboratory at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

Learn about the Marine Minerals Laboratory Suite at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

Learn about the Organic Geochemistry Laboratory suite at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

Learn about the radiochemistry lab at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

Learn about the Sediment Laboratory Suite and the Carbon Analysis Laboratory at the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.