[meteorite-list] Meteorite Classification Question - Instruments

From: Carl Agee <agee_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:30:59 -0700
Message-ID: <CADYrzhqmq-13V3oST2ccXwjz27PdjSEmt48qboqwjhcsL8Z1rA_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi Robert,

The electron microprobe is the instrument of choice for quantitative
analyses of major elements of silicate minerals like olivine. SEM is
great for qualitative analyses, quickly to see what elements are
present - energy dispersive spectroscopy is nice technique to screen
iron meteorites unknowns for example. As I understand it the XPS is
used primarily imaging like an SEM, also chemical mapping. The ion
beam instrument is a fabulous state-of-the-art device for imaging at
very high resolution and can be used for micro- nano-milling and
manipulation. These last two are amazing research tools, but not
really what you need, right off the bat, for basic classification
work.

You must be at a very high-powered research facility!

Carl Agee

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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:10:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Robert Beauford <robertbeauford at rocketmail.com>
Subject: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Classification Question -
       Instruments
To: "meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com"
       <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Message-ID:
       <1326489054.80741.YahooMailNeo at web111002.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

As I recall, there are several people on the list that actively
classify meteorites, so I'm hoping one of you will be patient with a
question that may be profoundly ignorant.
I have access, in house, to a?FEI Nova Nanolab 200 Dual-Beam Focused
Ion Beam or a?PHI VersaProbe XPS instrument, (along with SEM and TEM)
but not to a working electron microprobe or, ironically, the equipment
to make thin sections.? I am not very familiar with the XPS or ion
beam instrument.? Can I get the necessary olivine composition ratio to
achieve classification of a chondrite with the XPS probe or the ion
beam?or do I need to go somewhere?and use a proper electron
microprobe?? I would be truly grateful if any of you would take the
time to advise.
Thanks so much,
-Robert??

-- 
Carl B. Agee
Director and Curator, Institute of Meteoritics
Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences
MSC03 2050
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131-1126
Tel: (505) 750-7172
Fax: (505) 277-3577
Email: agee at unm.edu
http://meteorite.unm.edu/people/carl_agee/

Received on Sat 14 Jan 2012 12:30:59 PM PST