The sample preparation equipment housed in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences are shared facilities that are co-managed by Dr. Emily Finzel, Dr. Bill McClelland, and Dr. David Peate. Analytical instruments for Earth-science research, including an SEM, electron microprobe, laser ablation ICP-MS, and XRF, are housed in the Iowa MatFab Facility.
![jaw crusher](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/7731A61D-AC7C-44E7-8325-D2E6930CA8DF.jpeg?h=cac687d8&itok=nfQ_J9r6)
Bico Badger jaw crusher
Reduces fist-sized or smaller pieces of rock to 1/8"-3/4" gravel
![ball mill](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/1209B045-960A-46D2-919B-8139E8BFC597.jpeg?h=b4c7294f&itok=vzxnFAz8)
Spex 8000m mixer mill
Small high-energy ball mill that accommodates sample sizes ranging from 0.2 - 1.5 grams
![ultrasonic separator](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/CEB617B3-178E-411A-A396-499899598364_0.jpeg?h=ab3073e9&itok=pew9peGT)
Fisherbrand™ Model 505 Sonic Dismembrator
High power, programmable system ideal for separating clay from silt and sand grains
![Frantz free fall separator](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/40A0B362-B301-4872-A4D7-B6B47C41C859_0.jpeg?h=b4c7294f&itok=LFaqgBV6)
Freefall magnetic separator
Suitable for separating free flowing sands in the range of 30 to 100 mesh
![X-press](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/B089D226-E7DF-48B2-8482-6ABAAD6B854C.jpeg?h=cac687d8&itok=iQwszqqk)
X-press
An automated, programmable hydraulic press to make pressed discs for XRF analysis
![Camsizer](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/87F8400C-DFD6-4A73-802C-B350BAA65AE6.jpeg?h=b4c7294f&itok=mqgKyTos)
Camsizer
A particle size and shape analyzer that uses dynamic image analysis to measure a size range of 20 µm - 30 mm using dry analysis of granulates and bulk materials
![disk mill](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/459C4DB9-246A-4741-9BC7-5883311B2A7A.jpeg?h=cac687d8&itok=6Xsmt0ua)
Bico UA pulverizer
Reduces up to 1/4" gravel pieces to 150-200 mesh particles
![shatter box](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/9D77C90A-7A7C-406D-AA7E-FC9A9A01244F.jpeg?h=cac687d8&itok=OPS8crAJ)
Spex 8530 Shatterbox
Swing mill with sound-proof enclosure that accommodates sample sizes ranging from 2-100g
![water table](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/0A13AE3B-D952-4AAB-95B3-21628FD7076C.jpeg?h=cac687d8&itok=HHmHuPG1)
Gemini water table
Shaker table used to isolate dense fractions
![Frantz magnetic barrier separator](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/5FC302A5-A091-432A-B793-5EB9D5E23C07.jpeg?h=6bae88f4&itok=n5XFuSoT)
Frantz magnetic susceptibility separator
Removes paramagnetic minerals from a heavy mineral separate
![fluxer](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/54440478-E144-42D4-81F3-627CB0D4D184.jpeg?h=cac687d8&itok=MGzFso4E)
Fluxer
A 3-position automated fluxer to create homogenous fused beads for XRF analysis
![Petrographic microscope](/sites/basinanalysis.lab.uiowa.edu/files/styles/square__1024_x_1024/public/2022-06/2E86F778-D32B-4FDC-9C29-799EC461E3C1_1.jpeg?h=d94538f1&itok=EGQBHKt1)
Petrographic microscope
Standard petrographic microscope equipped with a teaching head and a Petrog automated point-counting stage