Geological, Archeological & Environmental
The chemical information of geological, environmental and cultural heritage samples can be measured at the BL4.1 using either modes of transmission or reflection. Applications of FTIR on those fields include analyzing the trace amount of interesting element content, measuring volatile inclusion of glass and minerals, and analyzing chemotaxonomy of early life as well as linking biological correspondence of both microfossils and macro fossils
To optimize samples to be fit into ‘working distance’ of 36X objective, dry solid samples with proper thickness of less than 50 µm or powder sample can be applied into diamond compression cell which is used to apply this type of sample by placing it on diamond slice and then pressing to be thin under the cell for transmittance measurement. In case of an opaque sample, it should be placed on a low-e reflective slide for reflectance measurement. Examples for this type are soil, ancient wood, dried paints, etc.
