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Note: The diamond disc is attached to a magnetic disc which is then placed on the wheel plate. Diamond disks are located on the stud shelf in the X-Ray ICP preparation area of the Thin Section Lab. Use the silver or purple diamond disc.
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The rotation speed is controlled by the dial shown in Figure 1F. The range is 0 rpm to 500 rpm. 150 rpm is a good starting position. Adjust the speed if needed: faster for hard rocks and slower for softer rocks.
With the water on and the RPM adjusted press the 'Run' button (Figure 1G). Move the sample back and forth across the disc to prevent making a groove. If there is an emergency press the 'Emergency Stop' button (Figure 1H) to stop rotation and cut off the water. To enable the wheel again twist the knob until it pops back out.
Polish the rocks with a Breuler Buehler diamond disc (Figure 2) until they're completely smooth and round on all edges. The purpose of grinding on a diamond disc is to remove any possible contaminates caused by the drilling mud (or drill bit) or the rock saws in the splitting room. There should be no pits or jagged corners. Put the rock into a labeled beaker (Figure 3). Before polishing the next sample, clean the diamond disc with a dressing stone. Dressing stones are found in the Splitting Room of the Core Lab. Do this for all samples and then move on to 'Cleaning Samples'.
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Figure 43. Fused glass bead.
- An analytical procedural blank of Flux is prepared identically to the samples. The 0.4 g of flux (the pre-weighed flux) is fused with 10µL 0.172 mM of LiBr and dissolved. An additional 0.1 g of flux is NOT added to mimic the TDS of the 0.5 g mix of sample + flux because this would provide an inaccurate quantitation of the impurities introduced by the amount of flux used in preparation of the unknowns.
Weighing the Sample
Making beads - protocol used during Exp 391
The process described above was not appropriate to make beads during Exp 391. Some samples had recrystallized parts during cooling. We therefore changed the protocol by doubling the flux quantity (i.e., 400 mg of flux was used) and increasing the sample mass to 125 mg (instead of 100 mg). The temperature of the beadmaker was also "increased" to 1220ºC (see Exp391 X-Ray Tech Report regarding the beadmaker temperature issue).
Weighing the Sample
Note: This process is typically done by the chemistry technicians.
Weighing the sample is a critical step. The sample weight should be as close to 100 mg Note: This process is typically done by the chemistry technicians.
Weighing the sample is a critical step. The sample weight should be as close to 100 mg as possible. Inaccuracies in the weight will show up in the analytical results. Print small labels for each sample and place on your small, clear capped vial. On the lid label a sticker with the core, section, and interval.
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Using the Bead Maker during transit is not advised, due to power fluctuation which could cause damage to the Bead Maker electronics.
Making beads - protocol used during Exp 391
The process described above was not appropriate to make beads during Exp 391. Some samples had recrystallized parts during cooling. We therefore changed the protocol by doubling the flux quantity (i.e., 400 mg of flux was used) and increasing the sample mass to 125 mg (instead of 100 mg). The temperature of the beadmaker was also "increased" to 1220ºC (see Exp391 X-Ray Tech Report regarding the beadmaker temperature issue).
Cleaning Platinum Crucibles
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