The laboratories at the Universität Basel are managed by the Research Group Quaternary Geology. The laboratories include: a Thin Section Laboratory, The Speleothem Archive, Digital Image Analysis Laboratory, Sample Preparation Laboratories and Stable Isotope Laboratory.

Thin Section Laboratory

The thin section lab is equipped to produce a wide variety of high-quality polished thin and thick sections. The lab is equipped with a wide range of instruments for thin section preparation, including slab saws, trim saws, grinders, epoxy impregnation stations, lapping machines, and polishing machines. Sections from soft sediments, hard rocks, minerals and soils can be produced.

Cutting

  • Brotlab Cutting and Slabbing Saw, diamond discs ranging from 300 mm to 500 mm in diameter
  • Lortone TS10-C Trim Saw
  • Metkon Servocut 301-MA Thin section Cut-Off and Trim Saw
  • IsoMet Low Speed Precision Cutter
  • 2 x Presi Precision Diamond Wire Saws
  • 1 x Diamond WireTec Diamond Wire Saw 250E

Grinding

  • 2 x BrotLab Lapping Machine
  • Logitech LP50 Lapper/Polisher

Polishing

  • Brotlab Polishing Machine
  • 4 x Struers Polishing Machine

The Speleothem Archive

All samples are archived in the large (55 m2) speleothem archive, where sample slabs can be displayed and sorted for subsequent sampling. In this room, the caving equipment is stored and maintained.

Digital Image Analysis Laboratory

The group has a Keyence Digital Microscope VHX-7000 (4k) and VHX-S770E motorized stage to take images of stalagmites and thin sections. Digital Image analysis allows us to measure the thickness of annual growth bands and distribution of fluid inclusions within a stalagmite. 

Sample Preparation Laboratories

Samples for stable isotope analysis are prepared in a special laboratory, which are equipped with various micromills and balances.

  • Mettler Toledo Microbalances
  • 3 Sherline Digital Micromills & Elemental Scientific Micro Mill2
  • Fume Hood

Stable Isotope Laboratory

The new state-off-the-art isotope Laboratory (BaQUIL) was established in 2019 and consists of:

  • Thermo Scientific Delta Plus and GasBench II for stable isotope analysis on calcites
  • Thermo Scientific Delta Ray & Autosampler
  • Picarro L2140-i for stable isotope analysis of speleothem fluid inclusions
  • Picarro L2130-i for stable isotope analysis of speleothem fluid inclusions