Here is the set up for running column chemistry to extract Sr ions from our samples. Babs trained me on running the samples and now I will take lead and run samples for two different projects in the lab.
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Here are previous samples from Liz's work. I was given these samples to finish out the column chemistry that Liz had started. From previous cave samples, Liz had run through a portion of the cleaning and extracting phase, and I was asked to finish the extraction and isolation phases.
This photo shows an additional cleaning stage which was necessary to prepare the containers for the sample. Containers are labeled to ensure the samples are only transferred between the same two containers.
One of the first days of sample collection for the South African project. Babs and Isabel trained me on the micromill machine and how to drill and collect the powder samples. Isabel marked up the thin sections and I selected samples from specific areas to collect chalky and fibrous content from within the fossilized oyster-shell bands.
I'd have to set "course" for the drill, in either raster areas or sometimes a collection of lines. This photo is an example of two rasters set to run, with the predicted run time of almost 3 hours for this one sample. To get the full yield needed, I'd probably have to collect from this thin section 2-3 more times depending on how much of each layer was present and how thick the bands were. I had about 12 thin sections and 2 epoxy mounts to sample from.
Photo: Raster areas set up on the MicroMill drilling program to create powder samples.
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