Images of Zeolite taken with a secondary electron detector (the second image has been enhanced.)

GOLDEN, Colo., Aug. 19, 2015 — The Colorado School of Mines Department of Geology and Geological Engineering has teamed up with global scientific instrument supplier Tescan, to build one of the most advanced geosciences research laboratories in the country, bolstered by acquiring two scanning electron beam microscopes, valued at $1 million.

Only two other universities in the country have these microscopes, making Mines a regional leader in analyzing rocks and minerals down to submicrometer scales at superb image clarity. These instruments will provide a rare hands-on learning experience for students and will help researchers advance solutions for challenges including:

• identifying and extracting precious metals and rare minerals from rocks
• discovering more safe and efficient hydraulic fracturing methods
• researching climate changes by analyzing sediment to track weather patterns
• contributing to forensic applications by analyzing soil on tracks and shoes

“Tescan’s choice of Mines as a research partner is a testament to the caliber of our faculty and students,” said Paul Santi, head of the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering Department. “Our lab will have unparalleled opportunities for research and teaching.”

Tescan, headquartered in the Czech Republic, will work alongside Research Assistant Professor Katharina Pfaff and other Mines geology faculty to provide ongoing customized hardware and software solutions to make the equipment do the work the researchers need.

Mines is already ranked number one in PayScale’s “College ROI Report: Best Value Colleges,” and getting experience using this advanced equipment will make the graduates even more marketable. “When I went to college, we would have never been allowed to touch this kind of expensive equipment,” said Thomas Monecke, associate professor of economic geology, “but we can set the machine to the experience level of the student, so they can’t break it.”   

Major donors who contributed to the fund include: Apache Corporation, Tim Bartshe, Marshall and Jane Crouch, Hugh and Michelle Harvey, John and Erica Lockridge and Jim Weber.

Contacts
Rachelle Trujillo, Senior Director, Communications / 303-273-3526 / RTrujillo@mines.edu
Karen Gilbert, Director of Public Relations / 303-273-3541 / KGilbert@mines.edu