The purpose of the Geochemistry and Experimental Mineralogy (GEM) platform is to provide logistical support to researchers studying the following main aspects of geochemistry and/or experimental mineralogy:
Fluid-Mineral-Organism Interaction in Natural Context
CO2 Geological Storage (mineral storage),
Experimental Metallogeny, Geomaterials and Nanomaterials Synthesis
High Temperature Hydrothermalism in the crust and the mantle,
(Bio)- Experimental Isotopic Geochemistry
This GEM platform has been labeled since 2019 Extra & Co platform as part of the Carnot ISIFoR and is used at more than 50 % for CCUS research.
Several installations are dedicated to study the thermodynamic and kinetics of CO2-water rock interaction, including the presence of microorganisms, mainly for permanent storage of CO2 in mafic and ultramafic reservoirs by mineral carbonation.
Close and flow-through titanium reactors (350°C, 300 bar)
Coretest flexible titanium and gold reaction cells (500°C, 1.5 kbar)
Potentiometric cells with hydrogen electrodes (300°C, 200 bar)
Diamond anvil hydrothermal cells
Reactive percolation
Saphire windows reactor coupled to in-situ Raman spectrometer (Kaiser)
The GEM also aims to facilitate the development of new techniques sometimes unique in the world such as, for example, potentiometry and in situ pH measurement under hydrothermal conditions, coupling between sapphire window reactors and in situ spectroscopy (Infrared, UV-Visible, Raman), high pressure and high temperature experimentation.
Geochemistry/mineralogy preparation rooms ( standard lab equipment)
Instruments for characterizing and quantifying surfaces and interfaces (automatic titrator, zeta potential measurement, BET, granulometer for nanoparticles)
Glovebox
pH stat and autotitrator (Mettler Toledo)
Nondispersive infrared sensor for dissolved organic carbon
Other analytical services available at GET laboratory (Chemistry, ICPMS, DRX, SEM) and at Raimond Castaing Microanalysis Centre.