The Coastal Geology Lab's Sediment and Gamma Lab Cost Center offers a variety of sedimentological laboratory services to both internal and external customers. Pricing for laboratory services listed below is effective through August 2026, but subject to change with supply costs.
Please contact laboratory manager, Allyson Boggess, for scheduling services and additional information.
Click menu items below to learn more about the equipment and capabilities of our various sediment laboratory spaces:
particle size analysis methods
Particle Size Analysis
This laboratory features two different particle size analyzers capable of measuring a wide span sediment grain size classes.
particle size analysis instruments
The Beckman Coulter Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer (LDPSA) can measure sediment grain sizes ranging from 0.01 microns to 2 millimeters in diameter. The Aqueous Liquid Module allows for the analysis of dry or wet sample material in an aqueous solution. This machine is best suited for analyzing clay-rich sediments with a small fraction of sand.
The Microtrac Camsizer X2 with X-Fall uses a series of high-speed cameras to measure multiple dimensions of dry particle size and geometry. It can process particles ranging from 0.8 microns up to 4 centimeters in diameter, making it well-suited for sand-dominant sediments.
For coarser sediments, the laboratory is well-supplied with a RO-TAP sieve shaker and variety of steel and brass sieves. Sediment samples with particles up to 16cm in diameter can be reliably analyzed for grain size distribution using a combination of dry sieving coarse fractions and normalizing fine fraction data from LDPSA or Camsizer by relative weight percent.
particle size analysis methods
Analysis Type
Description
Grain-size: Clays, silts, sand finer than <2mm
Samples containing mud or clay are soaked in a sodium hexametaphosphate solution for deflocculation for 24 hours prior to analysis with Beckman Coulter LS13320 Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyzer.
Minimum sample size: 5mL
Recommended sample size: 15mL
Grain-size: Sands 0.05-4mm
Samples are dried at 60C in laboratory oven for 24 hours prior to analysis with Microtrac Camsizer X2.
Minimum sample size: 25mL
Recommended sample size: 50mL
Grain-size: Coarse (>4mm)
Samples with both clay/mud and coarse sand (>2mm) fractions, or samples with grains over 4mm in diameter must be dried for 24 hours, then sieved to 1mm using RO-TAP sieve shaker. Fine fractions can be analyzed using LDPSA or Camsizer, depending on overall size distribution.
Additional processing is required for combining data types.
Recommended sample size: Depends on composition; contact Lab Manager.
Radioisotope Geochronology
The "Gamma Lab" contains four Mirion-Canberra Low Energy Germanium (LEGe) GL2020 gamma well detectors, as well as one Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) well detector. Homogenized and sealed sediment samples are placed inside the detector for 24 or 48 hours to measure decay rates of radioactive Pb-210 for sediment accretion rate modeling. All detectors are regularly calibrated with a multinuclide standard for accurate efficiency correction values, and samples are attenuated with a hot Pb-210 standard for self-absorption correction.
Samples can be prepared externally to lower analysis cost, but they must be prepared according to our laboratory protocols and packed into specific Petri dish containers to accurately apply efficiency corrections to the data. We are happy to provide empty petri dishes or links for purchasing your own. Please contact the Laboratory Manager for detailed sample preparation instructions.
gamma analysis methods and pricing
Analysis Type
Description
Price Per Sample
Sample preparation
Preparation of wet or dry bagged sediment sample. Sample is oven-dried, homogenized and tightly packed into one of four sizes of plastic Petri dish (12, 25, 40, or 70mL). Petri dish is taped shut and dipped in paraffin wax to create an airtight seal, then aged for 30 days to achieve secular equilibrium of Pb-210 and parent isotopes.
VIMS-internal: $35.00
External customers: $53.00
24-hour analysis
Prepared petri dish of sample is placed on gamma detector for 24 hours . Total counts under energy peak(s) is calculated for Pb-210, Pb-214, Bi-214 radioisotopes to isolate unsupported Pb-210 decay activity. Cs-137 is additionally observed to identify the 1963 peak anthropogenic nuclear activity marker.
A complete data report is provided, including a total-core calculated accretion rate, as well as detailed methodology and calculations.
VIMS-internal: $49.14
External customers: $73.53
48-hour analysis
A 48-hour analysis period may be preferred over 24 hours for samples with a diminished decay rate.
VIMS-internal: $68.97
External customers: $102.14
Data interpretation
Additional services include trying different accretion rate models (CF:CS, CRS, CIC), interpreting data based off history of sampling area, and step-by-step explanation of calculation methods by Laboratory Manager.
VIMS-internal: $35.00/hour
External customers:: $53.00/hour
Core Splitting and Processing
core processing description
Our specialized core splitting facility is capable of sectioning and splitting a number of different core types, including Geoprobes, aluminum-barrel vibracores, acrylic-barrel push cores, and Russian peat cores.
Laboratory services offered include core splitting, photography, visual core description, and basic preliminary sampling for moisture content, wet- or dry-bulk density, and grain size.
core processing methods
Analysis Type
Description
Core splitting
Core liners are cut lengthwise down each side with electric shears, then sediment is split in half using clay wire. Each split half is wrapped tightly in plastic and stored in a 5-foot D-tube.
Core splitting and photography
Core liner is cut and sediment split. Each split half of core is scraped to reveal fresh, even surface and true colors. Core is photographed in 10cm intervals on solid 20% grey background.
Core splitting, photography, visual description, and basic sampling
After splitting and photographing core sections, designated "working" half is used for handwritten visual description. Attributes described include color, texture, identification of visible structures, and abundance of micro- and macrofossils. Basic sampling includes moisture content, bulk density and grain-size at regular 15cm intervals, or at intervals of observed lithologic changes.
X-Ray Fluorescence Core Scanner - Coming Soon!
A new addition to the laboratory in summer 2025, the Avaatec XRF Core Scanner is able to scan split sediment cores and return relative elemental abundances. This data has a wide variety of application in coastal and Earth sciences, including nutrient cycling, trace mineral content, and anthropogenic contamination sources.
Additional laboratory space in Chesapeake Bay Hall houses aGERSTEL Gas Chromatograph with a Preparative Fraction Collector , dedicated low-blank vacuum line, and a laminar-flow hood. This lab serves in the isolation, purification and combustion of individual organic compounds for compound-specific radiocarbon analysis.
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