Mineralogical Society Training Workshop in Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) in the Mineral Sciences

for postgraduates and advanced researchers

BOOK NOW for EPMA COURSES at the Natural History Museum

• 1–4 December 2009
• Dates for 2010 to be announced

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Details of the Training Workshop

In response to demand for hands-on training in state-of-the-art techniques in the mineral sciences, the Mineralogical Society has launched a series of workshops that will take place at various research institutes around the UK. It is hoped that these courses will be of value to postgraduates as part of their ‘skills training’ for their degree course and for others as part of their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Full time NERC PhD students may be able to apply for a bursary from their departments to attend this course.

Course outline and objectives

• To provide a fundamental theoretical background to EPMA, coupled with practical sessions run by staff experienced in microprobe analysis of diverse mineral samples
• Hands-on use of analytical scanning electron microscopes and a Cameca SX50 electron microprobe
• Use of dedicated off-line computers for image and data processing
• Lectures and practical sessions will be held in state-of-the-art meeting rooms and laboratories

Course tutors and equipment

Staff from the Electron Microscope and Mineral Analysis Division of the Natural History Museum under the Division’s Head, Dr Terry Williams, aim to give participants as much ‘hands-on’ experience as possible during the course, using three separate electron microscopes.

Course fees

Postgraduate and post-doctoral researchers: £325 
Other academics: £650
Participants from industry: £1100 

All full members of the Mineralogical Society receive a £50.00 reduction on the above fees.  All students attending the course receive one year’s free student membership of the Society. Other non-member course participants are offered one year’s free Membership of the Society.  These membership offers  are subject to the normal conditions of entry to the Society.

Cancellation

Participants are accepted on the course dependent on a place being available at the time of application. The course organizer reserve the right to cancel the course and refund course fees if there are insufficient numbers. Cancellations will be accepted with full refund of fees up to one month before the course commences. The maximum number of participants is six.

Course contents

• Historical background and recent developments in electron probe microanalysis
• Generation of electrons in the electron microprobe:
• Instrumentation
• Vacuum systems
• Ancillary equipment
• Interactions between electrons and specimen:
• Production of secondary electrons and X-rays
• Electron detectors and imaging:
• Secondary electron detectors
• Backscattered electron detectors
• Cathodoluminescence
• X-ray detectors:
• Energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS)
• Wavelength-dispersive spectrometry (WDS)
• Quantitative analysis:
• Sample preparation
• Standardization procedures
• Matrix corrections
• Overlaps and interferences
• EDS vs. WDS
• Precision, accuracy an detection limits
• Element mapping
• Image processing
• Light element analysis
• Analysis using variable pressure (environmental) scanning electron microscopes
• Applications of software packages in EPMA
• Virtual WDS©
• Particle Analysis
• MinIdent©

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