Facilities
The Group has access to all the necessary equipment for detailed sedimentological, petrological and geochemical studies of volcanic deposits and mapping of volcanic hazards. We also have a wide range of equipment that we use to perform laboratory analogue studies and simulations. From these studies we gain insights into the fundamental physical processes operating within geological flows. This is a particular strength of the Volcanology Group at Bristol.
Geological Fluid Mechanics Lab
The HAAKE Mars Rheometer
The HAAKE Mars Rheometer determines various rheological parameters by shearing a test fluid between two surfaces, e.g. between concentric cylinders or between two flat, circular plates. The rheometer measures the torque applied and the rotation rate of the moving cylinder or plate. Established methods exist to convert the observed torque and rotation rate into shear stress and shear strain. Measurements can be either rotational (rotating continuously in the same direction) or oscillatory. A combined Rheometer-Microscope module (RheoScope) has an integral microscope with a digital video-camera attachment that allows the flow and the related particle interactions to be filmed during the measurement
Flume
Long & narrow flume for studies of entrainment and sedimentation from pyroclastic density currents
Aerator
The aerator produces bubble-liquid emulsions. Compressed air is injected into the stream of liquid just before it enters the mixing head. The mixing head comprises a rotor, rotating at an adjustable rate, and a stator which bear interlocking teeth.
Stereomicroscope
A ZEISS V8 Stereomicroscope with attached digital camera for the 3D observation of small objects. Various combinations of objectives and oculars allow magnifications from 3x to 120x.
Cold room
A cold room can keep temperatures of up to -30°C. It allows storage of sediment samples or ice cores, and experiments that require a low temperature environment.
Shock tube apparatus
The shock tube apparatus (including high speed camera) allows the investigation of fragmentation processes of two-phase volcanological flows.
Other equipment
- Sieves & Sieve Shaker
- Ultrasonic bath (Engisonic plus)
- Scales (Oertling NB53)
- Circulators (Haake C40P & K15)
- Vacuum pumps (Rietschle VCA60, Edwardes 2-Stage, Edwardes EPS 10-t/m)
- Cameras (Sony DCR-TRV330E & 255E, Nikon Coolpix 5400, Motionscope 2000S)
- High speed video equipment Ph-meter Pressure transducers (PCB 113A21 x4, Edwardes CG160, ... )
- Pulse logging (NI Labview)
- Refractometers (Leica, Reichert)
- Thermocouples Lights (Photon Beam, Berkey Beam 800)
- Peristaltic pump (Watson-Marlow 505S)
- Slide projector (Leitz)
Other facilities within the Department
Relevant petrological and experimental petrology facilities (BEEST)
- 1 atm drop-quench furnace
- Externally heated cold-seal hydrothermal pressure vessels
- TZM gas pressure device
- Rock-cutting unit (thin/polished section preparation)
- HP piston-cylinder vessels
- HP diamond-anvil cell apparatus
- Petrological/binocular microscopes, SEM, electron microprobe and spectroscopic equipment
Geochemical facilities
- ICP-MS & ICP-OES for trace elements analysis
- TIMS (thermal ionisation mass spectrometers)
- SEM
- Wet chemistry lab
- Electron microprobe for elemental analysis of minerals
- FTIR, Laser Raman and Mossbauer Spectroscopy facilities
Field equipment
- 4 spring gravimeters (LaCoste&Romberg, ZLS, Scintrex)
- 4 GNSS receivers (TOPCON and Trimble)
- 1 Theodolite
- UV camera
- IR camera
- Sieves for tephra deposits
- Field balance