NGU-Lab has a modern and well-maintained range of instruments for techniques like XRF, AAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS (with laser ablation), combustion and grain size distribution analysis, IC and XRD.
NGU-Lab (the NGU laboratories) has its origins in the former Norwegian Raw Materials Laboratory that was set up in 1917 by V.M. Goldschmidt with the purpose of providing information about geological resources and their application. Through their inorganic analytical services for geological materials and water, NGUs laboratories support the principal activities of the institution in the fields of research, prospecting and management. They also supply external customers with analytical services in, among other things, mineralogy, sedimentology, water supply, environmental investigations and building raw materials.
NGU-Lab has a modern and well-maintained range of instruments for techniques like XRF, AAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS (with laser ablation), combustion and grain size distribution analysis, IC and XRD, as well as facilities for palaeomagnetic and petrophysical measurements, mineral separation, thin-section production, XRI (X-ray inspection of drill cores) and SEM (scanning electron microscopy). An 40Ar/39Ar geochronological laboratory was established in 1999.
Simplified presentation of NGU-Lab's range of analytical techniques:
| Geological material (rocks, sediments, minerals, building raw materials) |
|
| XRF |
major and trace elements |
| XRD |
mineral identification |
| ICP-MS w/laser ablation |
REE, Y, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Th, U* |
| ICP-AES (extraction) |
32 cations |
| Atomic absorption (extraction) |
Cd, Pb, As, Se, Sn, Hg |
| Combustion analysis (Leco) |
sulphur, carbon, total organic carbon |
| Grain size distribution analysis |
laser diffraction, sieving |
| SEM and EPMA |
Scanning electron microscopy and electron probe micro analysis |
| Various mechanical testing |
PSV-test, ball mill, Loa Angeles test, grain shape analysis |
| XRI |
industrial x-ray inspection (drill-core samples) |
| Water (ground water, surface water, vadose water, snow samples) |
|
| Physical wateranalysis |
pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, colour figure, turbidity |
| IC |
7 anions: F-, Cl-, NO2-, Br-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42- |
| ICP-AES |
32 cations |
| ICP-MS |
30 cations including the REE* |
| Atomic absorption |
Cd, Pb, As, Se, Sn, Hg |
* ICP-MS and ICP-MS-LA methods are under continual development and revision.
Quality assurance
Since 1994, NGU-Lab has been accredited by Norwegian Accreditation for geological testing (P08) and chemical analysis (P12) of water and geological materials under the registration number TEST020. All our routine methods in XRF, ICP-AES, ICP-MS, IC and physical pameters, grain size distribution and combustion.
Published: 27. January 2008