Standard Operating Procedure - Paleomagnetism Lab
March 2018
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The Paleomagnetics Lab technician shares his/her is a Marine Technician who has been assigned to work in the paleomagnetics lab. The Paleomagnetics Lab technician shares their duties between the Core Lab and the Paleomagnetics Lab. For details on the Core Lab duties, refer to the Core Lab SOP.
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IV. DURING CORING OPERATIONS
Assist in core processing according to the Core Lab SOP. This is a primary function of any marine technician (with few exceptions like chemistry technicians, who have a different role) and should be your highest priority.
The following is a list of actions that are accomplished once on site by technicians alone or cooperatively with the scientists assigned to the laboratory for an expedition.
A. SAMPLING
The basic magnetic measurements are conducted on whole/split sections and discrete samples:
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- Remain in contact with the Core Tech and Operations Manager while orienting APC cores. Make sure that the Flexit or MI5 Icefield Tools are exchanged every 8-12 hours.
- Check Flexit battery voltages from the raw survey file and change the batteries when the voltage is below 8.5V. Check the battery voltage on the MI5 Icefield tool at the start of each survey. If the batteries are at 8.5V switch them out before starting a survey.
- Upload Cryogenic Magnetometer data, orientation data, JR6 data, and Kappabridge data to LIMS using MegaUploadaTron. Cancel any duplicate uploads or remeasured runs after consulting with the paleomagnetists.
- Clean and demagnetize the tray of Cryogenic Magnetometer at each change of shift or whenever deemed necessary (usually done by the scientists). Wipe down the tray with isopropyl alcohol and Kimwipes when cleaning. It's especially important to keep the track and boat clean when the sediment is changing from high intensity core samples to low intensity. Treat the bottom of the boat with antistatic liquid as needed to help minimize flux jumping.
- Once a week check and record vital signs of the Cryogenic magnetometer and enter the data into the vital signs sheet and include in the tech report at the end of the expedition.
- Ensure that all instruments are free of dirt, lubricated and fully operational in the lab.
- Perform core lab duties according to Corelab Core Lab SOP
- Maintain good notes or a logbook for each instrument to document problems encountered and to monitor changes in parameters.
- Check and maintain your inventory on a regular basis and submit orders to the Assistant lab officer. This includes both inventory and non-inventory items.
- Update shipboard lab manuals and cookbooks user guides on the Confluence wiki pages on a regular basis.
V. DURING TRANSITS
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