Metals, Environmental and Terrestrial Analytical Laboratory

About METAL

The Metals, Environmental and Terrestrial Analytical Laboratory (METAL) offers instruments and resources to support research across many fields, including anthropology, chemistry, biology, forensics, geology, environmental studies, ecology, biomedicine and health. METAL’s experienced staff can train users from initial sample preparation through evaluating data quality in analyses from students, industry, academia and government researchers. 

METAL’s laboratory spaces are located in two buildings. In the Goldwater building, our facilities house instrumentation for elemental analysis, surface area and porosity measurements, gas chromatography and isotopic analysis of greenhouse gases, and both discrete and flow-injection colorimetric analyses of nutrients.

Our facilities in Bateman Physical Sciences Center F  include a general wet chemistry lab, an instrument lab, a trace element clean lab and a Biosafety Level 2 workspace. We offer isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) of light elements such as C, N, O and H in a variety of sample matrices with Thermo MAT 253 and Thermo Delta Plus Advantage mass spectrometers and a wide variety of peripheral inlet devices (EA, TOC, TC/EA, GC-C/TC) for sample introduction. We also have a Picarro CRDS for carbon isotopes in CO2 and CH4., and a LGR water isotope analyzer.

For elemental concentration analyses, we have a variety of inductively coupled plasma source instruments, for either liquid, solid, or nanoparticle measurement including an Agilent 5900 ICP-OES, an iCap-RQ plus ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS, TOF-ICP-MS, and LA-TOF-ICP-MS. For radiogenic, mass-dependent, and non-mass-dependent isotopic analyses, we have a Neoma multi-collector ICP-MS with Isotope 2 and Apex Omega.

METAL uses a secure database with cloud backup to store processed data. It has audit functionality and is suitable for maintaining chain of custody and ensuring data transparency and traceability. This option is available for all users.

Our staff are committed to providing the intellectual support and technology necessary to meet the research needs of students and investigators while creating a valuable educational experience for users.

Although most users prefer to receive individualized hands-on training, enabling them to perform their own analyses, we offer complete analytical services as well. We also provide a wide variety of support and equipment options to assist with sample preparation needs prior to analysis, as well as established procedures and protocols for all instruments.

As some users may require staff assistance to use our instrumentation, METAL offers specialized technical assistance to our customers at the following levels, which are based on the complexity of the request and the expertise needed to address it. 

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