Facilities

1000 ton Kawai-type Multi-anvil Apparatus

1000 ton Kawai-type Multi-anvil Apparatus

This apparatus is capable of producing pressures of ~25 GPa and temperatures up to 3000 K.  This allows us to reproduce conditions in the uppermost lower mantle.

Rotational Drickamer Apparatus Rotational Drickamer Apparatus

This apparatus is capable of deforming materials to large strains, at pressures of 25 GPa and temperatures up to 2300 K.  Using this apparatus, we have begun deformation experiments to determine the rheology of wadsleyite, the olivine polymorph in the upper half of the transition zone.

Griggs-type Deformation Apparatus

Griggs-type Deformation Apparatus

Our Griggs-type deformation apparatus is capable of deforming materials at ~2GPa and ~1600K to shear strains of up to gamma = 7

Field-Emission Gun SEM with EBSD

Field-Emission Gun SEM with EBSD

Our scanning electron microscope (SEM) allows us to conduct detailed studies of the microstructures of our samples. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) allows us to quickly and accurately determine individual grain orientations for microscopic fabric analysis.

Micro-Raman Spectrometer  - LabRam 300 with Olympus BX-41 Microscope

Micro-Raman Spectrometer  - LabRam 300 with Olympus BX-41 Microscope

Raman spectroscopy permits rapid phase identification with minimal sample preparation.

 
Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) - Excalibur FTS 3000 with UMA 600 Microscope

Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) - Excalibur FTS 3000 with UMA 600 Microscope

Infrared spectrometry is used to determine water contents in experimental and natural samples.