Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

A scanning electron microscope, acquired in 2016 with a grant from the National Science Foundation, provides a powerful tool for students, faculty, and visiting researchers to study the structure and composition of rocks, minerals, shells, and corals.

Uses

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) allows one to see well beyond the powers of the naked eye. It can, for instance, provide details or reveal history about the composition and formation of rocks, minerals, clamshells, corals, and ancient coins.

Features

The Tescan Vega3 LMU Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is equipped with an array of detectors. The backscattered electron (BSE) and cathodoluminescence (CL) detectors image samples, and the energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) systems collect quantitative data on chemical compositions and crystal orientations. The SEM is located in Roux 115.

The personal-computer controlled instrument allows:

Digital imaging (up to 300,000x magnification at c. 1 nm resolution)
Chemical analysis
Crystal orientation mapping

Using the SEM

The SEM is used by students and faculty throughout the College. A range of specimens may be imaged and analyzed, including minerals, microfossils, nematodes, plants, bone tools, coins, and ceramics.

The instrumentation facilitates innovative research that involves professors, collaborators, students, and community partners and expands the breadth of scientific inquiry possible at the College.

The new instrumentation also provides undergraduate research training here. Undergraduates use the SEM in multiple courses, as well as during independent study and summer research projects. These research projects train students to apply modern analytical techniques to original research questions and enhance the infrastructure for research across disciplines at the College.

SEM Instrument Time Request Form

Yang, T., Chen, H., Jia, Z., Deng, Z., Chen, L., Peterman, E.M., Weaver, J.C., and Li, L., 2022, A natural dual-scale single-crystalline architected lattice material. Science, v. 375, issue 6851, p. 647-652. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj9472
Peterman, E.M., Reddy, S.M., Saxey, D.W., Fougerouse, D., Quadir, Z., and Jercinovic, M.J., 2021, Trace element segregation to dislocation loops in experimentally heated zircon. American Mineralogist, v. 106, no. 12, 1971-1979. 10.2138/am-2021-7654
West, D.P. Jr., Peterman, E.M., and *Chen, J., 2021 Silurian-Devonian Tectonic Evolution of Mid-Coastal Maine, U.S.A.: Details of Polyphase Orogenic Processes. American Journal of Science, v. 321, p. 458–489. https://doi.org/10.2475/04.2021.03
Peterman, E.M., Jercinovic, M.J., Beane, R.J., and *de Wet, C.B., 2021, Kyanite preserves prograde and retrograde metamorphic events as revealed by cathodoluminescence, geochemistry and crystallographic orientation. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, p. 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmg.12593
Peterman, E.M., Reddy, S.M., Saxey, D.W., Snoeyenbos, D.R., Rickard, W.D.A., and Fougerouse, D., 2019, Nanoscale processes of trace element mobility in metamorphosed zircon, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 174, no. 92, 29 pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-019-1631-1
Sullivan, W.A., and Peterman, E.M., 2017, Pulverized granite at the brittle-ductile transition: An example from the Kellyland fault zone, eastern Maine, U.S.A. Journal of Structural Geology, v. 101, p. 109–123. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2017.07.002
Peterman, E.M., Reddy, S.M, Saxey, D.W., Snoeyenbos, D.R., Rickard, W.D.A., Fougerouse, D., and Kylander-Clark, A.R.C., 2016, Nanogeochronology of discordant zircon measured by atom probe microscopy of Pb-enriched dislocation loops. Science Advances, v. 2, e:1601218, 9 pages. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1601318
Peterman, E.M., Snoeyenbos, D.R., Jercinovic, M.J., and Kylander-Clark, A., 2016, Dissolution-reprecipitation metasomatism and growth of zircon within phosphatic garnet in metapelites from western Massachusetts. American Mineralogist, v. 101, p. 1792-1806. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2016-5524

Hillenbrand, I., Williams, M.L., Peterman, E., Jercinovic, M.J., Dietsch, C., 2021, Petrochronologic constraints on accretion, extrusion, and inverted metamorphism in the gneiss dome belt, Appalachian orogen. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 53, No. 6.
Peterman, E.M., Reddy, S.M., Saxey, D.W., Fougerouse, D., Jercinovic, M.J., Williams, M.L., and Quadir, Z., 2021, Nanoscale evidence of metamorphism – insights from natural and experimentally-treated zircon. vEGU21: Gather Online (virtual European Geosciences Union conference). GMPV7.1. April 17–30, 2021.
West, D.P., Jr. and Peterman, E.M., 2021, Magmatism along the Norumbega Fault System Corridor in Maine: A Review in Honor of Sheila Seaman. Northeast Meeting of the Geological Society of America. March 14–16, 2021.
*Harris, H.E., *Houlgate, L., Peterman, E.M., Williams, M.L. and Grove, M., 2021, Evidence of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism in zircon from the Rhodope Metamorphic Complex, Eastern Greece. Northeast Meeting of the Geological Society of America. March 14–16, 2021.
Peterman, E.M., Reddy, S.M., Saxey, D.W., Fougerouse, D., Rickard, W.D.A., 2020, Thermally induced migration of trace elements in radiation damaged zircon. Atom Probe Tomography & Microscopy Biennial Conference. Oxford, UK, July 2020. Cancelled due to COVID-19
West, D.P., Jr., Peterman, E.M., and *Chen, J., 2020, Igneous petrogenesis and overprinting deformation and metamorphism of the early Devonian Edgecomb Gneiss, mid-coastal Maine. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 52, No. 2
doi: 10.1130/abs/2020SE-344724 Cancelled due to COVID-19
Mako, C., *Sargent, C., and Peterman, E.M., 2020, Quartz grain size piezometry and c-axis fabric thermometry in the Sandhill Corner Mylonite Zone: Implications for shear zone evolution. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 52, No. 2
doi: 10.1130/abs/2020SE-345363 Cancelled due to COVID-19
Webber, J.R., Kalakay, T.J., Peterman, E.M., McAleer, R., Mogk, D.W., 2019, Deciphering the tectonometamorphic evolution and localization of deformation within the Wyoming Province of southwest Montana. AGU Fall Meeting Conference.
Peterman, E.M., Reddy, S.M., Rickard, W.D.A., Saxey, D.W., Fougerouse, D., 2019, Correlations between TEM and APT Analyses of Nanoscale Features within Zircon, Goldschmidt Abstracts
Calentti, M.C. and Peterman, E.M., 2019, Interpreting metamorphic histories preserved in kyanite. Northeast Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Portland, Maine. March 18-20, 2019.
Peterman, E.M., Reddy, S.M., Saxey, D.W., Snoeyenbos, D.R., Fougerouse, D., and Rickard, W.D.R., 2018, Atomic scale resolution of trace element variation in zircon reveals multiple metamorphic processes. Goldschmidt Abstracts, no. 2009.
Calentti, M.C., Hammer, J.E., Welsch, B., and Johnston, A., 2018, An experimental and analytical investigation of clinopyroxene sector zoning in two Hawaiian magmas. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Peterman, E.M., and Eusden, J.D. Jr., 2018, Monazite geochronology records early Acadian and NeoAcadian tectonometamorphic events in midcoast Maine. Northeast Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Burlington, Vermont.
Peterman, E.M., Jercinovic, M.J., and *de Wet. C.B., 2017, Cathodoluminescence domains correlate with compositional zoning in kyanite. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Seattle, Washington.
Reddy, S., Peterman, E., Saxey, D., Rickard, W., Fougerouse, D., and Marillo-Sialer, E., Characterization of nanoscale Pb mobility and entrapment in zircon using atom probe microscopy. Goldschmidt Abstracts, no. 3295.
*de Wet, C.M., *Teeter, E.C., Peterman, E.M., and Beane, R.J., 2016, Optimizing cathodoluminescence imaging on the SEM, 2016, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 48, no. 7., doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-285120
Peterman, E.M., Reddy, S., Saxey, D.W., Snoeyebos, D.R., Kylander-Clark, A., Rickard, W.D.A., and Fougerouse, D., 2016, Extracting geologic ages from isotopically distinct nanoscale reservoirs of Pb in discordant zircon by atom probe microscopy, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 48, no. 7., doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-285451
Sullivan, W.A., and Peterman, E.M., A possible example of pulverized granite from the brittle-ductile transition, 2016, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 48, no. 7., doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-283145

Earth and Oceanographic Science

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Uses

Features

Using the SEM

Selected Publications from the SEM Lab

Selected Abstracts from the SEM Lab