Electron Microprobe Laboratory

The Electron Microprobe Analyzer (EMPA) provides in-situ qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of minerals and other solid materials at the micrometer scale. We have extensive experience in performing high-quality microanalyses for research and education at the Dept. of Geosciences, Material Sciences and other Institutes at UiO, for other Norwegian and Nordic research institutions as well as for industry clients.

The Electron Microprobe Laboratory at the Department of Geoscience, University of Oslo. Photo: Gunn Kristin Tjoflot, UiO

The Electron Microprobe Laboratory at the Department of Geoscience, University of Oslo. Photo: Gunn Kristin Tjoflot, UiO

Booking and prices

Prices: Contact Facility Manager

Booking: Booking through BookitLab


Contact information: 

Facility Manager: Muriel Erambert
Location: Sem Sælands vei 1
0371 OSLO
Norway

Instruments:

  • Electron microprobe Cameca SX100 with 5 WDS spectrometers (including large crystals for trace element analysis, and PC crystals for detection of light elements Be to O), SE, BSE and CL detectors and optical system. Installed in 2002, upgraded in 2010.
  • EDS (SSD, N2-free) from Bruker (with light element window: detection of elements from C), installed in 2010.

Sample preparation equipment shared with the SEM-laboratory; Carbon Coater Cressington 208C.


Description of services:

  • In-situ microanalysis of major and trace elements in minerals and other solid materials
  • Qualitative and fully quantitative WDS chemical analysis
  • EDS element determination
  • Imaging: BSE imaging and X-ray element mapping

About the Electron Microprobe 

The EMPA is a microbeam X-ray analytical instrument that allows non-destructive analysis on the µm to nm scale of all elements from Be to U (although routinely from F to U only) in inorganic solid materials. Analysis is done in-situ on standard geological thin sections or polished mounts (see photo). Secondary and backscattered electron imaging is used to locate areas for analysis, in addition to light imaging (reflected and transmitted light), and to study textures and chemical zoning.

Typical samples analyzed on EMPA are polished geological thin sections and embedded materials in epoxy mounts (25 mm in diameter) – Other samples can be analyzed on request. Photo: Gunn Kristin Tjoflot/GEO
Typical samples analysed on EMPA are polished geological thin sections and embedded materials in epoxy mounts (25 mm in diameter) – Other samples can be analysed on request. Photo: Gunn Kristin Tjoflot/GEO

The characteristic wavelength dispersive (WDS) spectrometers of the EMPA allow enhanced x-ray energy resolution (notably separation of overlapping x-ray lines of similar energy) and much lower detection limits (down to a few 10s of ppm) than obtained on an energy dispersive analytical system (EDS) only. Punctual (µm to nm) analyses as well as chemical mapping of large areas is possible in WDS mode.

Fully quantitative WDS analysis requires calibration on standard materials of which we have an extensive collection.

The instrument is fully automatized and can be run unattended at night.

This lab is in BookitLab!

The laboratory can by appointment be used in research activities or/and assist students at the Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo or other institutions.

Published May 12, 2019 10:00 AM - Last modified Aug. 24, 2022 9:26 AM