The Experimental Petrology & Geochemistry Laboratory occupies an area of approximately 40 square meters in the Institute of Geosciences (IGc) at the University of São Paulo (USP). The laboratory features a number of apparatuses capable of simulating, in a controlled environment, the extreme conditions (e.g. high temperatures, high pressures, and gas atmospheres) found in the surface and deep within the Earth and other planets.

Funding from the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) to Dr. G. Mallmann (Project: Experimental Studies of Planetary Accretion and Differentiation) has enabled commissioning of a piston-cylinder press, a 1-atmosphere vertical tube furnace equipped for gas mixing, a CO-CO2-O2-SO2 gas mixing system, as well as support equipment (high-precision welding device, muffle furnace, scales, microscopes, oven, lathe, etc.).

< Gas-mixing vertical tube furnace >

The laboratory houses a GERO HTRV 70-250/18 vertical tube furnace, which operates at atmospheric pressure and is capable of reaching up to 1800 degrees Celsius. Attached to the furnace is a gas mixing system (plumbing in 316 stainless steal using Swagelok fittings), which comprises 6 AALBORG mass flow controllers (4 analog MFCs for CO and CO2, and 2 digital MFCs for either Ar, O2 or SO2) with variable flow ranges (10 to 200 SCCM) and 2 digital read out units. This system enables oxygen (fO2) and sulfur (fS2) fugacities to be precisely controlled (typically within 0.1 log bar units) inside the furnace.

< check out most recent calibrations >

< Box furnace and oven >

JUNG box (muffle) furnace capable of reaching up to 1300 degrees Celsius (right). Drying oven for up o 200 degrees Celsius (left).

< Supporting equipment >

TechCut 4 precision low-speed saw.

Precision multimeter.

Balance with 4 decimal places.

< Preparation room >

This room is used for preparation of starting materials and experimental charges. It contains a selection of chemicals, a precision TIG welder, a balance with 4 decimal places, a drying oven, a box furnace, a lathe-drill-mill machine, a low-speed precision saw, and other supporting equipment and material.

< Piston-cylinder apparatus >

A Bristol-design (200 ton) end-loaded piston-cylinder apparatus was installed in 2012. This apparatus is capable of simulating pressures of up to 4 GPa and temperatures of up to 2000 degrees Celsius that exist at depths down to 120 km in the Earth. Both 1/2” and 3/4” pressure vessels are available.

< check out photos of the installation >

LAMPERT PUK 3 precision TIG welder. It uses W electrodes and an inert gas (Ar) atmosphere which reduced oxidation and enables otherwise difficult metals to be welded.

Lathe-drill-mill multifunctional machine.