X-ray Fluorescence (µXRF) mapping: Compositional analysis and mapping for elements with ~ 1 µm focused spot size and X-ray emission energies between ~ 2-28 keV. Multiple elements can be analyzed simultaneously. Minimum detection limits are sample dependent, but parts-per-million level detection is typical, and ppb level detection is possible for some samples.

X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (µXAFS): Microfocused XAFS to determine the speciation (local chemistry, quantitative determination of the local geometric structure around the absorbing atom) of elements. Both µ-XANES and µ-EXAFS are possible, depending on concentration, as is oxidation state mapping. For extraterrestrial materials, XAFS can be used for defining valence states of multivalent elements in minerals and glasses that can then be used as oxybarometry proxies in cosmochemical studies. Multivalent elements of particular importance to earth and planetary science studies include S, Ti, V, Mn, Cr, Eu, and Fe.

X-ray Diffraction (µXRD): Microdiffraction analysis for mineral identification with spatial resolutions of ~ 1 µm. Area detector readout at frame rates < 20 msec per frame possible using Eiger 1M area detector allowing for diffraction mapping and tomography, etc.

Fluorescence and Diffraction Computed Microtomography (fCMT and dCMT): Both element specific XRF and XRD tomography with micrometer spatial resolution are available. Tomographic slices of XRF and XRD intensity through the object are then reconstructed following the same methods utilized for absorption tomography.

Full-field X-ray Computed Microtomography (CMT): Absorption tomography using the 13-BM-D bending magnet source for non-destructive 3D characterization of internal microstructures of larger samples. Used to visualize primary mineral phases and their textures, chemical zoning within crystallites, orientation relations, as well as secondary reaction products. The full-field absorption CMT apparatus consists of a single crystal scintillator (which converts X-rays to visible light), a microscope objective (that magnifies the scintillator image), and a 1920×1200 pixel fast CMOS camera. Operational modes include monochromatic beam mode for element-specific applications, pink beam mode which provides more than 1,000 times higher intensity than the monochromatic mode, and white beam mode which provides the highest flux and the highest energy X-ray spectrum, at the expense of vertical beam size.

FIB Sectioning Capability: This project includes funding to support preparation of focused ion beam sections for use at 13-ID-E using the University of New Mexico ion beam facilities. These resources are available on an as-needed basis to users of the GSECARS facilities that require this specialized sample preparation procedure.