The Laboratory provides a range of analytical services including engineering testing, environmental testing, geochemical as well as health related testing. These tests are provided for certification, quality appraisal, quality control, export purposes and research. Testing is done primarily for developers, construction companies, water entities, recreational facilities, environmental monitoring entities, mining companies, farmers, food processors, supermarkets and research organizations.
Analytic Methods
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
The Laboratory has a state of the art Perkin Elmer AAS system. This system utilizes three different AAS techniques. More than 40 elements, mainly metals may be determined. Specific AAS techniques include:
Remote Sensing Laboratory
Aerial photographs when viewed through a stereoscope create a three-dimensional (3-D) image of an area. The Remote Sensing Laboratory is an archive of these aerial photographs providing all-island coverage for the years 1941-1942, 1949, 1953-54, 1961, 1968, 1971 and 1980 including an exclusive 1951 series of Kingston and Montego Bay at a scale of 1: 12,500. Most of these photographs are rare and cannot be obtained elsewhere.
Optics Laboratory
Digital photography of petrographic samples (thin sections and polished sections) can be done. Guidance in mineral identification is also provided by appointment only.
