Bascom Laser Diffraction Sedimentology Laboratory
Located in the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center at the U.S. Geological Survey headquarters in Reston, Virginia, the laboratory houses state-of-the-art laser diffraction equipment for high-resolution particle size analysis and other sediment analysis capabilities.
The Bascom Laser Diffraction Sedimentology Laboratory houses state-of-the-art Beckman Coulter and Malvern laser diffraction equipment for high-resolution particle size analysis, which can be conducted on a variety of sediment types taken from hand samples, cores, or other subsampled media. The lab also houses portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), wet and dry sieving, and petrographic microscope equipment for analysis of both soft sediment and hard rock materials.
Lab staff conduct research into the physical characteristics of a variety of geologic sediments. This includes sediment core material from terrestrial and lacustrine environments, coastal and near-shore sediments, and representative samples from geologic map units. A major component of our work focuses on Quaternary geologic mapping in the northern US, but we also work nationally and globally. Our research emphasizes detailed sample characterization as a key to understanding the composition and origin of materials, and the characterization and correlation of geologic map units. We apply our expertise in quantifying particle size and other sediment characteristics, along with a variety of tools (see “Capabilities” tab at left), to support researchers working across a range of USGS Mission Areas.
The lab’s services and capabilities are available to USGS programs and researchers, and can also be provided to other federal, state, and academic entities through a USGS Facility Use and Service Agreement (FUSA) or Technical Assistance Agreement (TAA). Contact lab management for more information.