Laboratories and laboratory equipment

  • Laboratory for analysis of geological materials

    This laboratory is the place where students learn how to apply microscopic techniques for the investigation of the behaviour of solid materials (minerals, rocks, fluid inclusions, alloy, building materials, etc.).

    The lab is equipped with Olympus polarizing microscopes and stereomicroscopes (Japan), the optical cathodoluminescence system Leica + CL8200 MK5-1 (Germany, Great Britain), the Olympus fluorescent microscope with the Olympus LINKAM THMSG 600 microthermometric system for fluid inclusion analysis (Japan).

  • Electron microscopy and microanalysis laboratory

    This laboratory is equipped with the JEOL electron microprobe (Japan). The primary function of the microprobe is to provide major- and minor-element analyses of solid samples at the 1-5 micron scale. It can acquire digital secondary-electron and backscattered-electron images as well as elemental x-ray maps making it possible to analyse solid materials in situ and to resolve complex chemical variation (e.g. zoning) within single phases.

  • Near-surface geophysics equipment and petrophysics laboratory

    We use geophysics equipment to focus on seismic, electromagnetic, geoelectric and radiation methods of analysis and their software processing. The instruments include ABEM Terraloc Mk8 seismograph (Sweden), the PEG-40 seismic source (USA), the CMD-4 multidepth electromagnetic conductivity meter, the ARES geoelectric system (Czech Republic), the GSSI SIR-3000 georadar (USA), the INNOMAR SES-2000 sub-bottom profiler and the Georadis gamma-ray spectrometer (Czech Republic).

    The petrophysics laboratory includes the following instruments used for measuring magnetic, radiation and spectral properties of rocks in a laboratory: the X-Rite SP-62 spectrophotometer, the Georadis gamma-ray spectrometer (Czech Republic), and the AGICO KLY-4 Kappabridge (Czech Republic).

  • Geochemistry laboratory

    The geochemistry laboratory is used for preparing samples for analysis (using a fume hood, a muffle furnace, distillation columns, etc.) and for determining concentrations of elements and oxides in rocks and solutions using the X-ray fluorescence-based analytical method with the DELTA EDXRF system (Innov-X, USA) and the Pioneer Bruker S4 WDXRF system (Germany).

  • Sample preparation and sedimentology laboratory

    The sample preparation and sedimentation laboratory carries out preparation of rock samples for their subsequent analysis or for material processing. Its equipment includes the Fritsch Analysette NanoTec (0.08 – 2000 mm) laser particle sizer, a vibrating sieve, etc.

    Other equipment:

    Other equipment, used for sample preparation and microscopic analysis, includes the Struers cutting, grinding and polishing equipment. We use the following field equipment and instruments:

    • • field drills and probes, soil and water sample collectors
    • • floating drilling platform and underwater drilling equipment (UWITEC): maximum depth for collecting samples: 140m)
    • • geological compasses
    • • GPS receivers, geodetic GPS (Ashtec ProMark-500)
    • • field mapping tablets (Samsung Galaxy Tab Active)