About

The Bascom Laser Diffraction Sedimentology Laboratory is housed within the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center at the U.S. Geological Survey.  The lab facility is located at the J.W. Powell building on the USGS National Center campus in Reston, Virginia.

Since its establishment in 2006, the lab has primarily been funded by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP).  Thus, the lab most frequently works with geologic mappers across the United States, particularly on the Quaternary Geologic Mapping of the Glaciated Regions FEDMAP project for FY25.  The lab also works to support researchers in other USGS Mission Areas, including Ecosystems and Natural Hazards, and offers its capabilities to non-USGS researchers as well.