KGS Critical Minerals Facilities
The KGS operates multiple laboratories, both independently and in partnership with the KU Department of Geology. These facilities provide data for multiple projects focused on critical mineral research.
Geotek Multi-Sensor Core Logger Lab (Slawson Hall Room G270)
What it is: The Geotek multi-sensor core logger at KGS is equipped with eight sensors and a high-resolution (100, 50, or 25μm) line-scan camera. The sensors obtain the following data types: density, p- and s-wave velocity, magnetic susceptibility, spectral gamma (API units, and K, U Th content), visible and near-infrared light (VNIR), short-wave infrared light (SWIR), bulk surface geochemistry (pXRF), and electrical resistivity (soft sediment cores only).
How it is used for critical mineral research: The pXRF sensor allows us to survey hundreds of feet of core for critical elements at regular intervals (5-10cm) much more quickly and efficiently than using a pXRF in handheld mode would.
Projects using this equipment: CoreCM and EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Bruker D2 Phaser XRD X-ray Diffraction Lab (Ritchie Hall Room G2641C)
What it is: An X-ray diffraction instrument.
What it does: This technique sends x-ray beams through a sample, “bouncing” off of the atoms in the structure and changing the direction of the beam at some different angle, known as the angle of diffraction, which is different from the original beam angle. The angle of diffraction can then be used to determine the distance between atomic planes using Bragg’s law. The distance between atomic plates can then be used to determine composition or crystalline structure.
How it is used for critical mineral research: Determine composition or crystalline structure of minerals in samples. This helps identify which minerals are hosting the critical elements in a sample.
Projects using this equipment: EarthMRI
Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Lab (Parker Hall, Room 17)
Olympus Vanta M-Series pXRF
What it is: A portable X-ray Fluorescence instrument equipped with a 50kV X-ray tube, Rhodium anode, and GeoChem mode.
What it does: It emits X-rays that ionize component atoms in a sample, which then emit energy characteristic of the elements in the samples. Our Vanta M-series is capable of detecting the following elements: Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, S, P, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, W, Zn, Ta, Hg, As, Pb, Bi, Se, Th, U, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, La, Ce, Nd, Pr, Ba.
How it is used for critical mineral research: Detect critical elements in cores, cuttings and other samples.
Projects using this equipment: EMRI and CoreCM
Bruker Tracer 5G pXRF
What it is: A portable X-Ray Fluorescence instrument equipped with a 1 μm graphene window, 50kV X-ray tube, Mudrock-Helium and GeoExploration calibrations.
What it does: It emits X-rays that ionize component atoms in a sample, which then emit energy characteristic of the elements in the samples. Our Bruker Tracer 5G is capable of detecting the following elements: Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Ba, La, Ce, Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, and U.
How it is used for critical mineral research: Detect critical elements in cores, cuttings and other samples.
Projects using this equipment: EMRI and CoreCM
