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Mineral Sciences Research Expertise

Septarian nodule CMNR277.

Martin Lipman © Canadian Museum of Nature

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Septarian nodule
catalogue: CMNR277

Assorted picks and hammers.

Martin Lipman © Canadian Museum of Nature

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Mineral Sciences research involves studying the properties and interrelationships of minerals to determine the laws governing the formation and continued evolution of planets, and to improve the ability to locate and use our planet's limited solid resources.

Research at the Canadian Museum of Nature covers the following areas:

  • mineralogy and crystal chemistry (high field-strength elements)
  • pegmatite studies
  • petrogenesis of alkaline rocks.

 

X-ray spectrum produced by a barium mineral.

Scott Erict © Canadian Museum of Nature

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X-Ray Spectrum

The electron microprobe is a very useful tool in mineral sciences. It can tell us about the composition of a mineral--what elements are present, and how much of each element is present. This picture represents the X-ray spectrum produced by the electron microprobe from a mineral sample. Different elements generate peaks that show their different energies by the location of the peaks along the X axis of the graph. The energies of the peaks from this sample indicate that the mineral is composed only of barium. How much barium is present in this sample is indicated by the intensity of the energy produced, shown by the height of the peaks along the Y axis.