Department of Geology and Geophysics
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071-2000
Phone: 307-766-3386
Fax: 307-766-6679
Email: geol-geophys@uwyo.edu
Cutting edge geophysical imaging tools and petrophysical analysis facilities are available within the Department of Geology and Geophysics, both housed under the umbrella of the Near Surface Geophysics - Hydrogeophysics Lab. The Near Surface Geophysics Instrumentation Center (UWNSG), house in the Bill Nye Warehouse, is one of the nation’s most comprehensive field geophysical instrumentation collections. The Paul Heller Hydrogeophysical Material Properties Lab in the S.H. Knight Geology Building Room 11 contains instrumentation dedicated to developing material property transform relationships and performing experimental analyses. The Hydrogeophysics Lab is affiliated with UW EPSCoR WyCEHG.
Near Surface Geophysics - Hydrogeophysics Personnel:
Dr. Andy Parsekian: aparseki@uwyo.edu | Dr. Brad Carr: bcarr1@uwyo.edu
http://www.uwyo.edu/epscor/wycehg/research-facilities/finse/finse-equipment.html
http://www.uwyo.edu/epscor/wycehg/research-facilities/finse/finse-software.html
http://www.uwyo.edu/epscor/wycehg/research-facilities/finse/finse-equipment-checkout.html
Electrical resistivity: AGI Super Sting R8/IP/SP resistivity meter is available including an ASTM standard soil test box, or arbitrarily sized columns and sample holders. In conjunction with gravimetric water content measurements, this equipment may be used to calibrate Archie’s type petrophysical transformations to convert measured electrical resistivity to porosity and saturation. These instruments may also be used to conduct 1D, 2D, or 3D lab experiments on field or synthetic samples.
Lab-scale Ground Penetrating Radar: A Malå Geoscience (Malå, Sweden) GPR control unit with shielded, separable 1.3 GHz antennas is available for use on rectangular sample monoliths approximately 30cm in each dimension or smaller, depending on physical properties. The instrument measures travel time of a transmitted electromagnetic pulse that can be converted to velocity (and relative dielectric permittivity) when distance across the sample is known. In conjunction with gravimetric water content measurements or probe measurements of dielectric permittivity, this GPR instrument can be used to calibrate empirical or physical models for saturation and porosity. This instrument can also be used in the lab for 2D or 3D tomography experiments.
Nuclear magnetic resonance: A Vista Clara (Mukilteo, WA) Corona NMR rock core analyzer is present that can accept either individual samples, or cores (in pass-through mode) ranging from smaller than 5 cm up to a maximum of 10 cm. This instrument is housed in a Faraday cage (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage) that suppresses external radio frequency interference, therefore providing a quiet environment that ensures optimal measurements conditions. NMR is the only geophysical method that is directly sensitive to water; this laboratory instrument produces volumetric water content data as well as the transverse relaxation time that indicates pore geometry. Combining these two parameters, hydraulic conductivity may be estimated.
Ancillary measurements: Sample-processing equipment is also available including a drying oven, sample holders, sieves, and bench space. Fluid and bulk conductivity probes as well as dielectric probes are also available.
Department of Geology and Geophysics
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071-2000
Phone: 307-766-3386
Fax: 307-766-6679
Email: geol-geophys@uwyo.edu