Rock & Sediment Preparation
The Rock and Sediment Preparation facilities provide all necessary sample preparation steps for a variety of analytical techniques, e.g., Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Laser Ablation - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). We provide rock splitting, sawing, crushing, sieving, milling, mineral separation (magnetic and density), and thin/thick section preparations. We offer bespoke sample preparation services for colleagues and students in our university, external academics and commercial clients.
What we do
Our laboratories are equipped to handle a wide range of sample types, including rocks, soils, sediments, mineral separates, concretes, and metal alloys. We are happy to tailor our preparation procedures to your specific needs, depending on the sample type and chosen analytical technique.
Key preparation techniques include:
- Rock splitting, sawing, crushing, milling, and sieving
- Mineral separation (density separation via shaking table and heavy liquids (LST & DIM), and magnetic separation via vertical and horizontal magnetic separators)
- Grain mount preparation, including polishing
- Polished thick/thin section preparation
Facilities and equipment
Our laboratories are fully equipped for all stages of sample preparation.
Key capabilities include:
- Hydraulic rock splitting – Aydra Model 6515 Lite
- Rock sawing – Contempo Lapidary 24” saw, ATM Brillant 220, Highland Park high production saw, Buehler Petro-Thin
- Rock crushing – 2 x Jaw Crushers: Retsch BB 100 Mangan and BB 200 Mangan
- Rock/Sediment/Soil pulverising/milling – Rock pulveriser (Bico, Gilson LC-53) & Mixer/ball mill (Retsch MM 400)
- Shaking table – Gemeni table MK2
- Mineral separation – vertical & horizontal magnetic separators (Frantz L-1 and LB-1), LST and DIM heavy liquid separation
- Lapping - Logitech PM6 lapping machine
- Mounting – MMM Medcenter Vacucell vacuum oven for epoxy resin impregnation
- Grinding/Polishing – 2 x Semi-automatic grinder-polishers (Buehler Vector Power Head Beta Grinder-Polisher & Kemet 300 Series), 1 x manual grinder-polisher (Buehler Beta Grinder-Polisher).
Quick links
- Our research
- Video – ‘Day in the Lab.’ ©James Campbell (University of Glasgow, B.Sc. Geology student)
- Research facilities
Contact us
For inquiries or to learn more about our facility and services, please contact:
- Dr. Steffen Hellmann (Lab Manager) – E-Mail
- General enquiries, rock splitting/crushing, rock/sediment/soil milling, sieving, mineral separation.
- Dr. Connor Brolly (Technician) – E-Mail
- General enquiries, rock sawing, lapping, grain mounting, polishing, thin/thick section preparations.
- Prof. Cristina Persano (Academic lead) – E-Mail
- General enquiries.
Our gallery
Hydraulic rock splitter Aydra Model 6515 Lite to break samples down to the correct size for the crushing process.
Rock saw (Contempo Lapidary 24” saw) to break down large samples for splitting, crushing and thin sectioning.
Thin section preparation using a Logitech PM6 lapping machine.
Large rock jaw crusher Retsch BB 200 Mangan to crush rocks. Alongside the extraction fans, the operator is equipped with a breathing mask to protect themselves from the fine (silica) dust.
Small rock jaw crusher Retsch BB 100 Mangan to crush rocks. Alongside the extraction fans, the operator is equipped with a breathing mask to protect themselves from the fine (silica) dust.
Rock Pulveriser Bico, Gilson LC-53 to mill/pulverise grains, for example, for XRF analysis. Alongside the extraction fans, the operator is equipped with a FFP3 fine-dust mask and ear defenders to protect themselves from the fine (silica) dust and noise.
Mixer/Ball Mill Retsch MM400 to mill/pulverise small amounts of grains/soils/sediments (up to 40 mL), for example, for XRF analysis.
Shaking table Gemeni MK2 for separation by specific density.
Vertical magnet (Frantz L-1) for rough separation into magnetic and non-magnetic grains.
Horizontal magnet (Frantz LB-1) for fine separation into magnetic and non-magnetic grains.
LST heavy liquid density mineral separation. Grains are separated by density into a float vs. sink fraction to separate e.g. apatite and zircons (sink) from quartz, feldspar and/or calcite (float).
Grinding/Polishing machine Buehler Beta to grind/polish thin sections & resin-mounted grains.
ATM Brillant 220 with laser line for high precision cutting.
Plane-polarised light (left) & cross-polarised light (right) images of staurolite & sillimanite-bearing schist, Glen Esk, Scotland.
Plane-polarised light (left) & cross-polarised light (right) images of garnet amphibolite, Isle of Mull, Scotland.