Paleoclimatology Lab

The paleoclimatology lab, managed by Nathan Stansell, is located in Davis Hall room 506 and contains the following equipment:

  • 40m3 cold storage facility and sediment core repository.
  • ASC Scientific point-sensor automated magnetic susceptibility track with Bartington MS2E surface scanning sensor: This custom-built instrument measures magnetic susceptibility on sediment cores up to 2 meters long with a range of spacing from 1 to 10 mm. The core sits on a semi-cylindrical sample boat that is pushed past the sensors using a stepper motor with power being transmitted to the boat via a screw drive system. The sample boat rides on two low-friction rails. The starting edge and core length are automatically detected via an optical sensor pair. The lab also has the Bartington MS2G sensor for measuring magnetic susceptibility on loose sediment.
  • InnovX Delta Premium Haldheld XRF analyzer: This analyzer provides fast, non-destructive elemental analysis from Mg to U, from PPM to 100%. This instrument can measure split sediment cores and dried bulk sediment.
  • Smartcube Camera Imaging Scanner: This system takes optical images of split cores at high resolution. The track is capable of scanning cores at 1000, 500 and 250 dpi. This system also has a web interface that connects to SmartDIS, Virtual Core Archive.
  • Labconco 6L FreeZone Freeze Dryer: This system includes a large drying chamber as well as multiple flasks for freeze drying numerous sediment samples.
  • Evolution 60S UV-VIS Spectrophotometer: This instrument acquires accurate spectra with scan speeds up to 4200nm/min. It acquires measurements from the UV to the near-IR. This is used primarily in the paleoclimatology lab for biogenic silica measurements, but it can also be used for a range of environmental applications.
  • Thermo Scientific Thermolyne Tabletop Muffle Furnace for doing Loss-on-Ignition procedures.
  • Stainless steel washing stations for processing sediment samples.
  • Thermo ST16 Centrifuge
  • Labconco Paramont Ductless Fumehood.
  • Thermo Scientific Hermatherm drying oven.

The lab also contains the following analytical equipment:

  • Hydrolab® multisonde instrument for measuring water quality (dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature and pH).
  • Precision balances.
  • Dissecting microscopes.
  • Multiple PC workstations.
  • Core-splitting equipment.

The lab also contains the following field equipment:

  • 50 meters of coring rods.
  • Four Zodiak inflatable boats.
  • Two Livingstone square-rod piston cores.
  • Various surface corers.
  • Sediment core extruders.
  • Fishfinder GPS (for bathymetry).

Contact Us

Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Davis Hall, Room 312

815-753-1943 (undergraduate)
815-753-0631 (graduate)

815-753-1945 (fax)
askeae@niu.edu

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