The Department is well-equipped for research and hands-on learning experiences with standard research tools that are expected in a Geological or Earth Sciences and Geological Engineering department. We are also equipped with a growing variety of high-tech and specialized research equipment. These facilities are summarized below.
The Department is well-equipped for research and hands-on learning experiences with standard research tools that are expected in a Geological or Earth Sciences and Geological Engineering department. We are also equipped with a growing variety of high-tech and specialized research equipment. These facilities are summarized below.
Queen's Facility for Isotope Research (QFIR)
| Co-Directors: | Dr. Dan Layton-Matthews, Dr. Matthew Leybourne, Dr. Peir Pufahl, Dr. Christopher Spencer |
|---|---|
| Associate Scientists: | Dr. Gema Olivo, Dr. Laurent Godin, Dr. Chris Spencer, Dr. Jennifer Day, Dr. Bas Vriens, , , |
- Stable isotope & ICP/MS Lab
- Electron Microbeam (Microprobe and SEM-MLA)
- X-Ray Diffraction (including 2D micro-X-Ray Diffraction)
- Thin Section and Rock Room
Queen's Advanced Geomechanics Testing Laboratory
Dr. Mark Diederichs, Dr. Jennifer Day
- MTS 2500 kN loading frame for state-of-art rock unconfined compressive stress, triaxial and tensile testing
- GCTS servo-controlled direct shear machine
- Sample preparation, conformity testing, and preservation equipment
Geomechanics Imaging Lab
Dr. Jean Hutchinson, Rob Harrap
- LiDAR imaging systems – Reigl, Faro and Optech
- Photography equipment – Gigapan robotic heads, Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras and lenses
- Phantom IV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
- High performance work stations
- 3D Geometry Modelling Software: Photoscan, CloudCompare, RiScan, Polyworks, Cyclone, Scene
- Game Engine Software: Unity, Houdini
- Database Asset: 8+ years of rock slope monitoring data from several large slopes adjacent to railway infrastructure in western Canada
Computational Geomechanics Lab
Dr. Mark Diederichs, Dr. Jean Hutchinson, Dr. Jennifer Day
- High performance work stations with industry standard and state-of-art 2D and 3D geomechanics software
- RocScience software suite
- Itasca Consulting Group Software: FLAC, FLAC3D, UDEC, 3DEC, PFC2D, PFC3D, Rhino, Griddle
- Discrete Fracture Network software: FRACMAN, Mofrac
Sedimentary Geology Lab
Dr. Elisabeth Steel, Dr. Peir Pufahl
- Mastersizer 3000 Particle Size Analyzer (for measuring grain size distributions), Centrifuge, and Fume Hood
- Clay separation preparation facilities for X-Ray Diffraction
- Workstation with Kingdom suite petroleum geology software for interpretation of subsurface datasets
- Flume facilities housed in Coastal Engineering Lab:
- Log flume for turbidity currents (30 cm wide x 4 m long x 70 cm deep, glass sided)
- Delta and Deepwater Basin: 4 m x 4 m basin, 1 m deep, with 2 glass sides for viewing, equipped with submersible topographic scanner and sea-level control system
Environmental and Aqueous Geochemistry Labs
- Fourier transform infrared spectrometer -micro ATR (for microplastic polymer and mineral identification)
- Micromeritics TriStar II BET surface area analyzer equipped with N2 and Kr for both low and high surface area materials
- Titroline 7000 auto-alkalinity titrator
- Shaking water baths
- Mixed flow and batch low T experimental apparatus
- Refrigerated incubator
- MilliQ ultrapure water system
- Integrion HPIC system for aqueous speciation analysis
- Automated microwave digestion system, freeze dryer
Departmental Computing Facilities
- Industry standard geomechanics numerical modelling software by RocScience
- Earth Systems Information Laboratory (ESIL): Computing educational facility with a wide range of software packages used in industry and research, including ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Maya, Iogas, as well as productivity and programming applications
- Rose Lab: Small group education and research facility with dual-monitor workstations and a mix of software packages used in research and education including ArcGIS, Maya, Unity, CloudCompare, Leapfrog, as well as productivity and programming applications. The Rose Lab is also used as a remote computing facility for longer-term compute jobs.
Additional Departmental Facilities and Resources
- Optical Microscope labs and thin section specimen teaching collection
- Structural geology rock teaching collection
- Paleontology fossil teaching collection
- Economic geology ore minerals and rocks teaching collection
- Geotechnical drill core teaching collection
- Miller Museum of Geology rock, mineral, and fossil specimen collections
- Miller Museum of Geology Augmented Reality 3D Sandbox
- Technical and safety equipment for field studies