The Geological Technical Laboratory prepares thin sections of rock samples and other materials for scientific research and education.
The following services are offered:
- Covered thin sections (DDs) for optical microscopy. Material thickness 30µm, 28 x 48 mm up to 100 x 200 mm.
- Polished thin sections (PDDs) for electron microprobe measurements. Material thickness 30µm, 28 x 48mm up to 100 x 200 mm.
- Doubly polished thin sections for Fluid Inclusions (FIs); thickness between 100 - 300µ thick.
- Polished thin sections (PDDs) of embedded individual grains or crystals exposed on the optical axis < 50µ. Embedded in epoxy on glass.
- Polished surfaces (PVs); crystals or ores cast in synthetic resin, polished and vapor deposited for electron microprobe analysis.
- Embedding and polishing of capsules from high-pressure experiments.
- Preparation on samples for micro-drilling, polished cross-sections of variable size, approximately 200 to 300µ thick, cast in epoxy.
- Cutting flat surfaces of drill cores for high pressure petrophysical measurements.
- Preparation of slabs and polished surfaces for optical study of rocks.
- Construction of lacquer peels in the field or from drill cores. The surface is coated with lacquer and is covered with loosely woven textile and a new layer of lacquer after 24 hours. When dried, the hardened profiles are removed and placed on a chipboard for off-site study.
The Geological Technical Laboratory is equipped with
- Various water or oil cooled saws with saw blades of 400 mm diameter and 0.6 mm thickness.
- Diamond-coated reversing wire saw Ø 0.2 for very thin parallel cuttings.
- Automatic and manual surface grinders with a diamond-coated vertical disc with a grinding range of 450x200x400 mm, oil-cooled, adjustable from 1µ.
- Various grinding machines and polishers
- Core drilling apparatus
- Ceramic oven for the production of pre-polishing discs
- Miniature belt sander
- Transmitted and reflected polarized light microscopes
- Other equipment such as: freeze dryer, vacuum clock, and ovens
For information on sample preparation and pricing please contact:
Bouke Lacet (operational manager)
b.lacet@vu.nl
+31 20 598 7405