The Department of Geology and Geophysics is housed in the 76,000 square-foot Michel T. Halbouty Geosciences Building complex. Numerous well-equipped laboratories and a host of field exploration equipment are available for performing analytical, experimental and field geological and geophysical research. The department also has access to laboratories across the Texas A&M University campus to support the cutting-edge research happening within the department.
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Computing and GIS/Remote Sensing Research Facilities
Near-surface Applied Geophysics
Earthquake Simulation Laboratory
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Fluid Inclusion Laboratory
Infrared Spectroscopy Laboratory
Environmental Geochemistry Laboratories
X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory
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Paleobiology Laboratory and Collections
Evolutionary Geobiology Laboratory
Micropaleontology Laboratory
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Thin-sectioning Equipment
Mineral Separation Laboratory
Rock Crushing Facility
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The Stable Isotope Geosciences Facility is designed to provide accessible, reliable and high-quality stable isotope measurements and training for faculty, staff and students within the Department of Geology & Geophysics, as well as the Texas A&M community. It was also created as a facility where state-of-the-art methodologies and technological developments in stable isotopes could be applied to important societal problems related to energy, ecology, Earth history, and the environment.
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The R. Ken Williams '45 Radiogenic Isotope Geosciences Laboratory allows Geology & Geophysics faculty and students to perform radiogenic isotope interdisciplinary research in diverse fields such as (but not limited to) marine geology, global tectonics, geochronology, environmental sciences, paleoceanography, and paleoclimate.
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The JOIDES Resolution Science Operator (JRSO) manages and operates the riserless drillship, JOIDES Resolution, for the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).
The JRSO is responsible for overseeing the science operations of the riserless drilling vessel JOIDES Resolution, archiving the scientific data and samples and logs that are collected, and producing and disseminating program publications. The drillship travels throughout the oceans sampling the sediments and rocks beneath the seafloor. The scientific samples and data are used to study Earth's past history, including plate tectonics, ocean currents, climate changes, evolutionary characteristics and extinctions of marine life, and mineral deposits. Drilling operations are conducted purely for scientific purposes and do not include oil exploration.
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The Department of Geology & Geophysics is well equipped with a variety of petrographic and stereo microscopes for use by students and faculty.
Hughes Microscopy Leaning Laboratory
Dedicated in 2019, the Hughes Microscopy Leaning Laboratory is outfitted with 22 petrographic and 12 stereo microscopes for use by students enrolled in various undergraduate and graduate courses. The microscopes in this lab are outfitted with digital cameras and tablets such that the images from the microscopes can be displayed at each microscope station, or on four different high-definition displays that are located on the walls of the class-room. This design facilitates interactive learning as the student, or students, and the instructor can simultaneously examine the same image.
Cathodoluminescence (CL) Microscopy Laboratory
The CL Microscopy Laboratory in Halbouty 56 houses a Technosyn 8200MKII cold cathode luminoscope with a Leitz Laborlux D microscope, a new ZEISS Axiocam 506 mono camera, and a new Dell Vostro 3681 Small Desktop computer. The laboratory is supervised by Drs. Grossman, Laya, and Pope.
Mel Friedman Petrofabrics Laboratory
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Particle characterization facilities include the Retsch Camsizer, Mastersizer 3000, and Zeiss STEMI 508 stereo microscope. The Camsizer is capable of dynamically measuring size and shape of particles ranging from 0.05 - 30 mm using dynamic image analysis. This is a non destructive method and samples are recoverable. This is used for free flowing bulk materials and granulates. The Mastersizer 3000 is capable of measuring the size of 0.001 - 3.5 mm using laser diffraction. This is a destructive method and samples are not recoverable. The STEMI 508 stereo microscope is used for static imaging of particles using both automated and manual measurements from images.