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Denver Microbeam Laboratory

The USGS Denver Microbeam Laboratory provides critical analytical and characterization support for a wide variety of internal USGS projects and external collaborators. In addition, the lab continually works to develop new methods or improve existing methods to analyze a variety of sample matrices. 

 

News

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Secretary of the Interior Visits Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

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U.S. Geological Survey and Colorado School of Mines announce long-term partnership

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Investigating Lung Disease in Military Veterans

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Publications

Approach for quantifying rare Earth elements at low keV

The challenges of analyzing bastnaesite (REECO3F) and hydroxylbastnaesite (REECO3OH) include beam sensitivity, quantification of light elements in a heavy element matrix, the presence of elements that cannot be analyzed with EPMA (H), and the use of x-ray lines whose physical constants are not well known. To overcome some of these challenges, Ca, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm were analyzed at 15 keV acce

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Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory

The complexity of mudstone diagenesis - some insight from the Tøyen Formation, Lower to Middle Ordovician, southern Sweden

The Lower to Middle Ordovician Tøyen Shale in southern Sweden, a biostratigraphically well-dated siliciclastic mudstone unit, shows 18 distinct authigenic cements that include sulfides, carbonates, silicates, clays, and phosphates. Marcasite, sphalerite, galena, and six texturally distinct types of pyrite characterize the sulfides whereas only one type of dolomite and three different generations o
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Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory

Geochemistry of hematite veins in IOA-IOCG deposits of SE Missouri, USA: Relation to felsic magmatism and caldera lakes

The paragenesis, textures, and chemical compositions of secondary hematite in regional potassic altered rhyolites, four IOA deposits, the sedimentary iron deposit at Pilot Knob and the Boss IOCG deposit in SE Missouri were determined and compared to primary magnetite from the IOA and IOCG deposits. Magnetite is composed of elements characteristics of mafic to intermediate intrusions whereas hemati
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Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory
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Science

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Image shows a scan of a zircon on a black background

Trace Elements in Quartz, Rutile, and Zircon

Quartz is an ubiquitous mineral that forms in all geologic environments including diagenetic, metamorphic, plutonic, and volcanic settings. Quartz is relatively unreactive and is likely to preserve its geologic history. Trace elements in quartz offer clues to formation temperatures and pressures, fluid chemistry, and tectonic setting. Rutile and zircon are refractory minerals also found in a...
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Denver Microbeam Laboratory
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Trace Elements in Quartz, Rutile, and Zircon

Quartz is an ubiquitous mineral that forms in all geologic environments including diagenetic, metamorphic, plutonic, and volcanic settings. Quartz is relatively unreactive and is likely to preserve its geologic history. Trace elements in quartz offer clues to formation temperatures and pressures, fluid chemistry, and tectonic setting. Rutile and zircon are refractory minerals also found in a...
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Image shows a scan of an apatite grain on a black background

Rare Earth Element Microanalysis

Rare earth elements (REE) are critical elements in the technology and energy production sectors as they are used in everything from smartphones to wind turbines. The demand for these materials has seen steady growth and production is lagging. The laboratory supports several projects within the USGS that are characterizing rare earth element minerals from Bokan Mountain and Dora Bay, Alaska...
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Denver Microbeam Laboratory
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Rare Earth Element Microanalysis

Rare earth elements (REE) are critical elements in the technology and energy production sectors as they are used in everything from smartphones to wind turbines. The demand for these materials has seen steady growth and production is lagging. The laboratory supports several projects within the USGS that are characterizing rare earth element minerals from Bokan Mountain and Dora Bay, Alaska...
Learn More
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Old JEOL Scanning Electron Microscope.

Denver Microbeam Laboratory: Mineral Resources Research Support

The USGS Denver Microbeam Laboratory provides chemical analysis and characterization of rocks, minerals, and environmental samples in support of a wide variety of USGS projects related to mineral resources, including research projects funded by the USGS Mineral Resources Program. The research applications for these projects range from mineral resource research and assessments, to geologic mapping...
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Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory
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Denver Microbeam Laboratory: Mineral Resources Research Support

The USGS Denver Microbeam Laboratory provides chemical analysis and characterization of rocks, minerals, and environmental samples in support of a wide variety of USGS projects related to mineral resources, including research projects funded by the USGS Mineral Resources Program. The research applications for these projects range from mineral resource research and assessments, to geologic mapping...
Learn More
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