Pre-Symposium Workshops
A variety of half-day and full-day workshops were held prior to the symposium, on Monday the 5th and Tuesday the 6th of February, at the University of Queensland, Brisbane (Note: UQ, not QUT).
Click the ‘+’ symbol next to the workshop title to learn more about the program.
All costs included GST; full-day workshops include morning/afternoon teas and lunch; half-day workshops include relevant morning/afternoon tea and lunch.
Audience: Beginner to expert.
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024
Time: 08:30 – 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $200
Organiser: Peter Miller, Senior Advisor Electron Microscopy, MCEM, Monash University
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Description: This 1/2-day workshop will cover fundamental understanding of the generation mechanisms of Cathodoluminescence in both mineral and material systems. The workshop will cover analytical tools and techniques and resources that are available for researchers. A fuller list of topics is given below:
1. Introduction
• Generation
• Sample preparation (Mechanical preparation; Ion beam polishing; Conductive coatings)
• What minerals can emit? (Extrinsic, Intrinsic, Bandgap emissions; How do I pick the type of emission and identify the emitter; Why do I need a luminescence database?; What are the “go to” CL conditions for imaging?)
2. Hyperspectral CL – The why and how? with Colin MacRae/Nick Wilson
• Why is single pass critical for CL analysis?
• How to analyse hyperspectral datasets
• Quantification of CL spectra (Examples : Ti in quartz, Mn in Calcite, RE in scheelite; What can cause problems – i.e. Fe quenching)
3. Mapping of minerals
• Heather Lowers USGS - REE mapping and analysis of barite
4. Commercial hyperspectral CL systems
• Presentation on Gatan CL system for SEM application
• Presentation on CSIRO xCLent for EPMA
5. Luminescence database – Accessing through CSIRO OpticalFit – Software demonstration with Aaron Torpy
6. Recent developments in Cryo-CL imaging and analysis
• What are the advantages of cryo-CL?
• Application to anhydrite and sphalerite
Audience: Both beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024
Time: 8:30 - 12:30
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $100
Organiser: Colin MacRae, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Mineral Resources
Presenters: Colin MacRae (CSIRO), Nick Wilson (CSIRO), Heather Lowers (USGS), and Aaron Torpy (CSIRO)
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Description: This half-day workshop will introduce the operating principles and applications of three types of imaging mass-spectrometry techniques. The techniques covered are Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), Large Geometry-SIMS (LG-SIMS, including NanoSIMS) and Atom Probe Tomography (APT).
Audience: Those who are new to the field as well as experienced SIMS users are encouraged to attend
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024
Time: 13:00 - 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $100
Organiser and Presenters: Will Rickard, John de Laeter Centre FIB-SIMS Facility Leader, Curtin University (W.Rickard@curtin.edu.au), Xiao Sun, John de Laeter Centre FIB-SIMS Platform Specialist, Curtin University, David Saxey, John de Laeter Centre Atom Probe Facility Leader, Curtin University, Trevor Ireland, Professorial Research Fellow - LG-SIMS, The University of Queensland, Janaina Avila, Research Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland
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Description: Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) is a quantitative SEM-based technique for the microstructural analysis of crystalline solids. It has proven to be very useful for automated mapping of the crystallographic microstructure / texture of metals and alloys, ceramics and semiconductors, and rocks and minerals, and has been applied to a wide range of problems in materials science and engineering, geosciences, and planetary science. Emphasis will be placed on practicalities of collecting and using EBSD data, from sample preparation to advanced data processing techniques. The workshop will be given by A/Prof Nick Timms from the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University, Perth. Nick is a geoscientist by training and has over 27 years of experience with EBSD. He has published extensively on a wide range of rock and mineral deformation via EBSD in Earth and planetary sciences. He is currently Deputy Director of the Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University.
Audience: This workshop is aimed at all researchers who are interested in finding out more about the capabilities of EBSD and would suit absolute beginners to ninjas alike.
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024
Time: 13:00 - 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $100
Organiser: Nick Timms, A/Prof, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University (N.Timms@curtin.edu.au)
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Description:
This workshop will include:
• Expert presentations on automated mineralogy techniques
• Scientific and industry applications of automated mineralogy
• Seminars covering the latest advances in instrumentation and data management in automated mineralogy
Audience: Beginners and experts alike are encouraged to enroll
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024
Time: 08:30 - 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $200
Organiser: Angus Netting, Director, Adelaide Microscopy, University of Adelaide
Presenters: Kathy Ehrig, Superintendent Geometallurgy at BHP Olympic Dam / Adj. Prof., Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources, University of Adelaide; Elaine Wightman, Senior Research Fellow, Sustainable Mineral Institute, The University of Queensland; Alex Walker, Research Associate, Curtin University; Braam Smit, Newmont; Andrew Kostryzhev, Project Manager and Scientist, The University of Queensland; Nobuyuki Kawasima, Microanalyst, The University of Adelaide; Kamran Khajehpour, Microscopy Product Manager, AXT; Zofia Swierczek, Microscopy, AXT; Nathan Fox, University of Queensland; Jonathan Knapp, Hitachi Canada; Mark Stafford, Zeiss; Leonardo Salazar, Geologist, Thermo Fisher Scientific; Chi Ly, Bruker
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Description: In this workshop we will review the basic instrumentation, operating modes and ancillary equipment available in today's modern instrumentation, as well as discuss imaging (CTEM, STEM, HREM), diffraction (SAED, CBED), and microanalysis (XEDS, EELS) techniques which facilitate materials characterization from the sub-millimeter to the sub-nanometer scales. The current status of instrumentation, analysis, pitfalls and examples of use as well as considering future prospects will be presented. The majority of the topics covered will be taken from a materials science perspective, however, examples from the life sciences will be included as appropriate. Based upon the attendee's interests and available time various advanced topics may be covered time permitting.
Workshop Outline
Instrumentation
• Electron Sources
• Electron Optics
• Electron DetectorsElastic Scattering
• Imaging
• CTEM, HREM, STEM …
• SCEM, Holography, Lorentz,DPC
• Diffraction
• SAD, CBED, LACBED, RHEED…Inelastic Scattering
• X-ray Energy DispersiveSpectroscopy
• Electron Loss Spectroscopy
• Energy Filtered ImagingAdvanced topics (as time permits)
• Radiation Damage
• In-Situ
• Tomography
• Holography
• Cathodoluminescence
• Software for EM
Audience: This workshop will serve as a good introduction to the techniques for the novice as well as a refresher for those who are returning to the field.
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024
Time: 08:30 – 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $200
Organiser & Presenter: Nestor J. Zaluzec, Senior Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory/University of Chicago
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Description: This full day workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of the theory of Monte Carlo modelling of electron scattering and the production of X-rays (characteristic and bremsstrahlung), backscattered electrons and other signals. Applications such as modelling of X-ray production will be demonstrated and attendees will be able to get hands-on experience using some of these programs.
Presenters: Prof. Raynald Gauvin, McGill University; Dr John Fournelle, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Dr Aurelien Moy, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Notes: Attendees will need to bring a laptop running Windows 10/11. Software will be distributed at the workshop.
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Description: This full day workshop will focus upon the theory and practice of electron probe microanalysis, covering key topics. It will provide a good introduction for newcomers as well as a refresher for more experienced users. The emphasis will be on analysis of inorganic polished samples, with discussion to include analysis of particles, thin films, and other materials as they are brought up by the attendees.
Topics will include:
• Sample preparation and mounting
• Microanalysis standards
• Basics of X-ray production (analytical volume, characteristic and continuum X-rays)
• WDS and EDS X-ray spectrometry (detection, pulse processing, deadtime correction, calibration)
• Setting up a quantitative analysis run (EDS vs. WDS, standards, spectrometers, strategy, evaluation of results)
• Matrix correction: understanding parameters (ZAF, phi-rho-Z, example compositional systems)
• Software tools for visualizing and understanding EPMA (e.g. CASINO, DTSA, CalcZAF)
• Instrumental performance and calibration, procedures, internal consistency of data
• Evaluating analyses and analytical runs, detecting and correcting problems
• Compositional mapping and quantitative analysis, correlative methods, and image processing (ImageJ, Fiji, new tools)
Audience: Beginners to experts that are doing electron-probe microanalysis using wavelength-dispersive and energy-dispersive spectrometry, which includes SEM-EDS as a sub-discipline.
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Time: 08:30 – 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $200
Organisers & Presenters: Paul Carpenter, Senior Staff Research Scientist, Washington University - St. Louis (paulc@wustl.edu); Heather Lowers, Research Geologist, USGS (hlowers@usgs.gov)
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Description: This workshop addresses all aspects of laser ablation ICP-MS analysis including experiment design, data acquisition and data processing. Topics covered will include U-Pb zircon geochronology, triple quadrupole geochronology and elemental mapping, as well as an introduction to Iolite 4 data processing software.
Presenters: Dr Charlotte Allen, Professor, Queensland University of Technology; Dr John Caulfield, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology; Dr Teresa Ubide Garralda, Associate Professor, University of Queensland; Dr Sarah Gilbert, Microanalysis Specialist, University of Adelaide; Dr Bence Paul, Elemental Scientific Lasers & University of Melbourne
Audience: Course content will be suitable for beginner to intermediate level and will focus on geological/geochemical applications.
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Time: 08:30 – 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $200
Organiser: John Caulfield, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology (john.caulfield@qut.edu.au)
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Description: This ½ day workshop will introduce attendees to some of the analytical techniques that are particularly useful for elemental and isotopic microanalysis of biomaterials (e.g. Energy dispersive spectroscopy – EDS; Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy –SIMS; X-ray Fluorescence – XRF). The capabilities, pros, and cons of these methods (in a biomaterials context) will be presented. Additionally, key aspects of sample preparation of tissues and cells for microanalysis will be discussed, with the pros and cons of both low temperature and chemical methods outlined.
Audience: Anyone interested in (or considering undertaking) element analysis of biomaterials. Suitable for beginners or those in the know.
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Time: 8:30 - 12:30
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $100
Organiser and Presenter : Peta Clode, Associate Professor, University of Western Australia, Dr Lachlan Casey, Analytical X-ray Specialist, Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland
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Description: The Australian Synchrotron is the largest piece of scientific infrastructure in Australia and can be of tremendous benefit to your research. This half day workshop will begin with an overview of what the Australian Synchrotron can offer, both compared to similar lab-based measurements, and specific measurements that can only be done at a synchrotron. We will follow this with tips on how to write a successful proposal and what to expect from your beamtime.
Presenters: This workshop will be conducted by a panel of Australian Synchrotron “super-users” and beamline staff.
Audience: Novice and potential users of the Australian Synchrotron and synchrotron science in general.
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Time: 13:00 - 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $100
Organiser: Michael Jones, Senior Research Infrastructure Specialist - Synchrotron Science, Queensland University of Technology (mw.jones@qut.edu.au); Christoph Schrank, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (christoph.schrank@qut.edu.au)
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Description: In the focused ion beam (FIB) workshop, we will cover the following aspects of FIB technology: Basic TEM sample preparation using Ga and Xe plasma FIB, application of plasma FIB for large cross sections and 3D analysis, and automation of FIB operations. The content will be useful for both beginners and experienced users. In addition, the workshop will be the first in-person meeting for the AMMS FIB special interest group, so it will be a great chance to meet and get involved in the Australian FIB community.
Presenters: Dr Lena Wolff, Application Specialist, AXT; Patrick Cleeve, Delmic; Dr Konstantin Faershteyn, Research Associate and Ion Beam Lab Coordinator, Queensland University of Technology; Angus Gale, PhD Researcher, University of Technology Sydney; Dr.Sergey Gorelick, Senior Research Officer, Monash University, Ramaciotti Centre for Cyro-Electron Microscopy; Dr Denis Korneev, Research Fellow, Monash University, Ramaciotti Centre for Cyro-Electron Microscopy; Torsten Richter, Product Manager, RAITH nanofabrication; David Miller, Queensland University of Technology.
Audience: Both beginners and experienced users of FIB instruments are welcome.
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Time: 8:30 - 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $200
Organiser: Dr Konstantin Faershteyn, Research Associate and Ion Beam Lab Coordinator, Queensland University of Technology
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Description: The care and correct maintenance of an SEM is the key aspect for a correctly operating instrument. This workshop will cover many aspects of SEM maintenance. Some of the topics to be covered include: vacuum systems and their maintenance, cleaning of microscopes parts such as apertures and wehnelt assembly, basic monitoring of instrument, testing of instrument operation (resolution, magnification calibration), EDS maintenance and calibration, monitoring filament conditions (filament life improvement and setting), and sorting out imaging problems.
Workshop Outline:
1. Vacuum Systems and their maintenance
2. Vacuum Systems advanced (diffusion and turbo pumps)
3. Cleaning of microscopes parts
• Cleaning by Hand and Wet Cleaning
• Column Cleaning - Apertures and Wehnelt assembly
• Cleaning the Column4. Filament life and type of break (monitoring filament conditions). Filament life improvement and setting.
5. Detectors (Checking and maintenance)
6. Basic Monitoring of Instrument
7. Testing of instrument operation (resolution, magnification calibration).
8. Sorting out Imaging Problems
9. Electrical System of SEM’s (fuses, power supplies etc)
10. Computer System maintenance
11. Other possible topics include:
• Plasma Cleaning
• What can cause problems pre/post installation (vibration/EMI/noise)
• Room Testing
• Designing EM labPresenters: Dr Richard Wuhrer, Darren Attard (Newspec), and Ken Moran (Moran Scientific), Tom Evans (Resonate Consultants)
Audience: This full-day workshop welcomes anyone working with SEMs, including technical, professional and scientific officers, new staff, as well as students and industry professionals.
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Time: 8:30 - 17:00
Location: University of Queensland
Cost: $200
Organiser: Richard Wuhrer, Research Facility Manager - AMCF, Western Sydney University (Richard.Wuhrer@westernsydney.edu.au)