Rates quoted here are basic rates for projects funded through UAF and are subject to change without notice. Projects that are not funded through UAF are subject to a 50% surcharge because of Federal regulations. Should your experiment need additional expendables (i.e. liquid nitrogen for the cryo-stage on the ESEM or a special column for LC-ICP-MS work) an additional charge on a cost plus basis will be applied unless you can provide the necessary supplies yourself.
- SX-50 Microprobe
- Instrument: $45 / hour
- Operator assistance: $90 / hour
Typical analyses take 2-5 minutes per point depending on the number of analyzed elements and detection limit required. Calibration of the instrument typically takes an hour.
- ISI-SR50 Conventional Scanning Electron Microscope
- Instrument: $45 / hour
- Operator assistance: $90 / hour
- Electroscan E2020 Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope
- Instrument: $45 / hour
- Operator assistance: $90 / hour
- if special expendables (i.e. liquid nitrogen for the cryogenic stage) are involved, extra charges on a materials basis will apply.
- Jeol 1200 Transmission Electron Microscope
- Instrument: $45 / hour
- Operator assistance: $90 / hour
- Pacific Nanotechnology Nano-R Atomic Force Microscope
- User provides tips (AIL has some standard tips available for purchase)
- Operator assistance: $90 / hour
- Panalytical Axios X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
- Developmental rate: $15/hour
- Instrument: $30 / hour
- Operator assistance: $90 / hour
Typical silicate analyses take 7-25 minutes depending on the number of elements analyzed and the detection limit required. The Axios also has a rapid semi-quantitative mode (relative accuracy typically better than 25% relative) which can analyze the entire periodic table above F at the 10-20ppm level in two minutes and at the 2-10ppm level in 15 minutes. Calibrations are monitored with drift monitors and generally are not needed on a per run basis.
- Agilent 7500ce (LA, LC) ICP-MS
- Developmental rate: $21/hour
- Rate using established method: $51/hour
- Operator assistance: $74/hour
Typical analyses of liquid samples take 2-5 minutes per sample depending on the number of analyzed elements. LC samples generally take 15-20 minutes. Detection limits are generally in the ppb range. Calibration takes approximately one hour.
Typical laser analyses take 1-2 minutes per point. Detection limits are generally in the ppm range.
Calibration takes approximately 30 minutes.
Instrument time and operator time are billed separately as many of our instruments can run unattended for multiple hours.
Several instruments list “developmental” rates. AIL recognizes that its instrumentation can perform analyses beyond those we already perform on a routine basis. The developmental rate recognizes this and allows users to experiment with the instruments at a reduced rate. In return, the user is responsible for providing AIL with a concise document describing the method so that other users may take advantage of it.
AIL has most of the equipment you will need to prepare samples for analysis in our lab. These include: facilities for preparing geologic thin sections, biological ultra-thin sections (TEM), microwave digestion, sample pulverizing and briquetting or fusing and gold or carbon coating.
Training: Training can be provided to the level required for your experiment at the listed hourly rates. Training for the microprobe and XRFs can also be obtained through GEOS 600. Training for the SEM and ESEM can be obtained through GEOS 428/628. We prefer that you operate the instruments yourself because 1) You know better than we do what results you need, and 2) You don’t have to pay the operator assistance charge!
