The Elemental Analysis Facility was built with funds from the National Science Foundation, the Grainger Foundation, an anonymous donation, and the Anthropology Alliance.

It is composed of:

• an LA-ICP-MS lab managed by Dr. Laure Dussubieux
  
• an interdisciplinary SEM-EDS lab managed by Betty Strack.
  
• a petrographic microscopy lab
  
• a portable x-ray fluorescence lab

The LA-ICP-MS Lab operates around a high sensitivity Varian quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer with a New Wave UP213 laser ablation system for minimally destructive trace and minor elemental analysis of a variety of anthropological and other natural history specimens. Bulk sample analysis is served by a Milestone microwave digestion system located in a clean sample preparation room. In collaboration with Dr Richard Cox at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Canada, we developed an adaptable chamber for the LA-ICP-MS analysis of large objects. The adaptable chamber laser ablation system is the first of its kind applied in a museum setting, having only been employed in experimental industrial systems previously. As such, it equips the Field Museum with unique, virtually non-destructive, high precision, multi-element analysis for large objects that cannot be destructively subsampled, such as complete ceramic vessels.

Anthropological applications of the ICP-MS include the ability to identify the trace element composition of obsidian, ceramics, metals, and other materials quickly and efficiently. Over 50 different trace elements can be measured at one time, often to the parts per billion level, with high spatial accuracy. Thus, different components (paste, paints, temper, slip) of a ceramic can be tested individually and compared to signatures for different sources.

The SEM-EDS lab features a LEO EVO 60 Scanning Electron Microscope with an Oxford Instruments INCA Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy system that performs nondestructive major and minor elemental analysis of a variety of objects. This lab also houses an older Amray SEM for imaging only research. SEM-EDS can measure some elements to 0.1% by weight, and is effective at characterizing major compositions of metals, minerals, etc… It can also be used to map elemental compositions across a surface, and can quickly, nondestructively, and inexpensively retrieve the major elemental composition of an object (for most elements above Be). Analysis of metal technologies and comparisons of bronze alloying is an example anthropological application for this instrument.

The Petrographic Microscopy Lab features a Meiji Techno Polarizing Light Microscope for the identification of mineral inclusions in ceramics.

The Portable XRF Lab includes a Bruker Tracer IV portable XRF for museum applications and an Innov-X Alpha series portable XRF for field investigations.

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