Mission Statement
To maintain the capability to provide basic chemical characterization analyses and mineral identification of soils and sediments at the University of Florida.

Location
G-158 and G-166 McCarty Hall

Contributing Faculty (those who have helped purchase instruments in the laboratory)
Willie Harris (Coordinator), Mary Collins, Randy Brown, and Nick Comerford.
 

Instrumentation and Facilities
 

	Laboratory X-ray Powder Diffractometer, Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Thermogravimetric Analyzer, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, UV-Visible Spectrophotometers (2)
	Temperature Controlled Water Baths (2),  Petrographic and Dissecting Microscopes (with digital camera), pH and conductivity meter, Centrifuges, Sample Shakers, Ovens, and Electronic Balances
	Field Ground Penetrating Radar

I. Soil Characterization Procedures
 
 

.	1.	Particle-size analysis: University graduate students will have the choice of being  instructed on the procedure and performing the analyses themselves, at no cost other than replacement of chemical supplies that they deplete. They will be expected to clean up after themselves. Otherwise, costs are as follows, with the specified differentiation for contributing SWSD faculty, other SWSD faculty, and other University faculty
		Sub-procedures Contributing other SWSD other (a) Perecent sand, silt, and clay $45 $60 $75 (b) Sand fractionation $15 $20 $25
	2.	Other:   Procedures Contributing other SWSD other (a) CEC by sum of cations $30 $40 $50 (b) Base saturation by sum of cations $35 $50 $60 (c) Organic C $15 $25 $35 (d) Soil pH $3 $4 $5 (e) Electrical conductivity $3 $4 $5 (f) Fe and Al extracted by acid oxalate, citrate-dithionite, or pyrophosphate $15 $25 $35 (g) KCl by extractable Al $15 $25 $35 (h) Biogenic Si $15 $25 $35

II. Soil Mineralogical Assessments
 
 

.	1.	Identification of soil minerals by x-ray diffraction (XRD): costs will be reduced to the extent that students perform their own work:
		Sub-procedures Contributing other SWSD other (a) Particle-size fractionation (includes additional steps required for XRD)  $90 $120 $150 (b) ID of clay-sized minerals  $120 $160 $200 (c) ID of silt-sized minerals  $30 $40 $50 (d) ID of sand-sized minerals  $30 $40 $50
	2.	Thermal Analysis:   Procedures Contributing other SWSD other (a) Differential scanning calorimetry $15 $25 $35 (b) Thermogravimetry $15 $25 $35
	3.	Polarizing and dissecting microscopes with digital camera: Free for most purposes to faculty and graduate students

III. Field Scale Characterization
 

Ground Penetrating Radar: $3000/day (See Mary Collins for specific details)

For additional information contact:

Dr. W. G. Harris
Professor
Soil and Water Science Department
University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl. 32611
Tel: 352-382-1951 x 251
E-mail: WGHS@ifas.ufl.edu