X-ray Powder Diffraction Laboratory

Department of Geological Sciences

In December 1996 the Geology Department installed a new Philips PW 3400 Powder Diffractometer in Lind 107. This equipment was purchased with joint funding from CWU and the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education through grant DUE #9651022 (Dr. James Hinthorne, Principal Investigator).

Photo of XRD instrument

This instrument is equipped with:

2200 watt (max.) Cu tube
Automated primary divergence slit
Automated secondary beam defining slit
Automated final resolving slit
Multi-purpose sample stage
Mini-proportional sealed detector
Computer controlled generator and electronics

A PC controls the all functions of the Diffractometer and is equipped with the standard X'Pert MPD 4.0 control and analysis software and the newest X'Pert Line software, as well as the ICDD Powder Diffraction File on CD and rapid search software. Analysis software includes: Search/Match, Unit Cell Determination and Refinement, Quantitative Phase Analysis, Particle Size Analysis.

The department has the standard array of supporting equipment for prepartion of XRD samples, including sample crushing equipment, magnetic separator, ball mill, ovens, centrifuge, precision scales and heavy liquids. Also on hand are "zero-background" sample holders for working with very small amounts of sample. The department just added accessory equipment for clay mineralogy analyses.

The XRD is a major component of the course Mineralogy (GEOL 346). It is the principal lab component of Advanced Mineralogy(GEOL 481/581) and an XRD Methods course (GEOL 498) for Physics and Geology undergraduate seniors. After completing one of these courses, students are able to use the XRD for their own samples, to support work in other classes, and to support undergraduate and graduate research projects.