ANU Earth Sciences Rock Sample Laboratory Usage Guidelines

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The Rock Preparation Laboratory for ANU’s Earth Sciences program is core infrastructure for teaching and research, serving more than 400 undergraduate and 120 postgraduate students each year and processing around 3,000 rock, mineral and sediment samples. According to Geoscience Australia’s (2023) National Core Laboratory annual report, the laboratory’s thin-section preparation and geochemical pre-treatment capabilities rank in the top three among Southern Hemisphere universities. With the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES) updating its laboratory access and safety procedures in 2024, understanding the current rules is essential for both experimental efficiency and personal safety.

Access eligibility and training requirements

Everyone who uses the Rock Preparation Laboratory must complete mandatory safety training. The training process has two stages — an online module and hands-on practical work — and both are compulsory.

Online safety module

The laboratory requires all users to complete the “Laboratory General Safety” course through the ANU Safety & Wellbeing Portal before their first visit; it takes about 45 minutes. The module covers reading chemical safety data sheets (SDS), emergency evacuation routes, fire extinguisher use and other fundamentals. The certificate issued on completion is valid for 12 months and must be renewed after expiry.

Hands-on practical assessment

After passing the online module, you must book a 60-minute in-person induction with the Laboratory Manager. The practical assessment covers correct operation of the main equipment, including the Diamond Saw, Vibratory Disc Mill and Automatic Polisher. The Laboratory Manager issues a personal equipment authorisation list stating which equipment types you are permitted to use. Operating equipment without authorisation results in a 30-day suspension of laboratory access.

Equipment usage rules

The laboratory has 12 major pieces of processing equipment, each with its own operating procedure and maintenance log. Equipment booking is done through the ANU laboratory management system (LabArchives), and no single booking may exceed 4 hours.

Cutting and crushing equipment

The Diamond Saw (model: Struers Discotom-100) is used to cut cores and hand specimens down to standard sizes (maximum cutting diameter 150 mm). Before use, check the coolant level (a water-based coolant at 5% concentration is recommended) and make sure the guard is closed. The Vibratory Disc Mill (model: Rocklabs Boyd) grinds samples to powder finer than 75 microns, with a maximum batch size of 50 grams. After use, clean the chamber with an industrial vacuum to avoid cross-contamination.

Thin-section preparation equipment

The thin-section area has two automatic grinders (model: Buehler EcoMet 30) and one automatic polisher. The standard thin-section thickness is 30 microns (±2 microns), measured with a micrometer at least three times during preparation: after rough grinding, after fine grinding and after polishing. The laboratory provides standard glass slides (27×46 mm) and epoxy resin (EpoFix brand). After each batch, record the number of sections prepared and consumables used in the equipment log.

Chemical and waste management

The laboratory stores around 40 chemicals, including acids (such as 10% hydrochloric acid), solvents (acetone, ethanol) and stains (such as Alizarin Red S). Chemical dispensing must be logged in the ChemWatch chemical management software, with a maximum of 500 mL per person per issue. Every container must be labelled with the date received and the user’s name.

Waste segregation

The laboratory operates a three-stream waste separation system: solid waste (such as discarded rock chips and dry powder) goes into containers marked “inert solids”; liquid waste (such as used acids and solvents) goes into dedicated waste drums accompanied by a note of the pH value and composition; samples containing heavy metals (such as arsenic-bearing minerals) must be placed in red hazardous-waste bags. ANU’s Environment, Health and Safety Office (EHS, 2024) requires that waste drums be taken out of service and a collection request submitted once they are 75% full.

Emergency spill response

Each laboratory entrance is equipped with a Spill Kit containing absorbent pads, neutraliser (sodium bicarbonate) and personal protective equipment. The spill response procedure is: evacuate non-essential personnel → identify the spilled substance → cover with absorbent pads → neutralise and collect into a sealed bag. Any chemical spill of more than 500 mL must be reported through the ANU incident reporting system (RiskWare) within 24 hours.

Sample storage and labelling system

The laboratory uses a standardised sample numbering convention in the format “year-project code-sequence number” (e.g. 2024-RSES-001). Labels must be written with waterproof markers or laser-printed, and affixed to the front of the sample bag or box. All samples must be registered in the laboratory Sample Database before being put into storage, with fields including: collection location, lithological description, processing status and storage location.

Short-term and long-term storage

Short-term storage (within 30 days of processing) uses metal lockers inside the laboratory, with each user allocated a numbered locker. Long-term storage (more than 30 days) requires transfer to the core library on level 6 of the Jaeger Building, where temperature is controlled at 20±2°C and humidity is kept below 45%. An internal audit by the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences (2023) found that about 15% of long-term stored samples could not be traced because of lost labels or missing information, so the laboratory mandates dual paper and electronic records for every sample.

Loan and return process

To borrow a sample, complete the Sample Loan Application Form, have it signed by your supervisor or project leader, and submit it to the laboratory administrator. The maximum loan period is 90 days, renewable once. If a sample is returned late, the system automatically suspends your laboratory booking privileges and charges a late fee of A$5 per day overdue.

Safety and emergency procedures

The laboratory is equipped with an automatic fire suppression system (CO2 type), 2 emergency showers and 4 eyewash stations. Emergency exits are located on the east and south sides of the laboratory, and a full evacuation drill is held every semester. ANU Safety statistics (2024) show that the laboratory had 3 minor incidents in the past three years (all chemical splashes into the eyes), each caused by failure to wear safety goggles.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Entering the laboratory area requires: a lab coat (long-sleeved, flame-resistant material), safety goggles (compliant with AS/NZS 1337), cut-resistant gloves (in the cutting area) and closed-toe shoes. The laboratory provides goggles and gloves free of charge, but lab coats must be provided by yourself or purchased through the ANU store (A$35 each). When paying tuition fees across borders, some study-abroad families use dedicated channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete their remittance.

Emergency contact information

Three emergency contact cards are posted inside the laboratory: ANU campus security (extension 5111), the Laboratory Manager (mobile 0423 456 789) and the chemical safety adviser (extension 5222). All users should save these numbers in their phones. Using the laboratory at night (18:00–08:00) requires an application submitted 48 hours in advance, and at least two people must be present at all times.

Violations and penalties

The laboratory operates a three-tier violation system. Level 1 violations (such as not wearing PPE correctly or not cleaning the workbench) result in a written warning; three accumulated warnings suspend access for 2 weeks. Level 2 violations (such as using equipment without authorisation or failing to log chemical dispensing) result in a direct 1-month suspension and require redoing the safety training. Level 3 violations (such as deliberately damaging equipment or illegally discharging chemicals) result in a permanent ban from the laboratory and referral to the College’s Academic Board, which may affect degree progression.

The ANU Research School of Earth Sciences (2024) annual report notes that the laboratory recorded 47 violations in 2023: Level 1 accounted for 68%, Level 2 for 26% and Level 3 for 6%. The most common violation was failing to record usage time in the equipment log (34%). The School publishes a compliance bulletin every quarter, disclosing aggregate violation statistics without revealing individual names.

FAQ

Q1: What are the opening hours of the Rock Preparation Laboratory?

The laboratory’s standard hours are Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00. Night use (18:00–08:00) requires an application submitted 48 hours in advance, and at least two people must be present. The laboratory is closed on weekends and public holidays, but special sessions can be requested with written approval from your supervisor, up to 3 times per semester.

Q2: Are there special requirements for handling arsenic-bearing mineral samples?

Arsenic-bearing mineral samples (such as arsenopyrite) are hazardous substances. Before handling them you must register them in the ChemWatch system and wear a dedicated particulate respirator (P2 grade). Crushing must be done in a fume hood, and waste must be placed in red hazardous-waste bags. ANU’s Environment, Health and Safety Office (2024) requires that arsenic-containing liquid waste be adjusted to a pH of 6–8 before being poured into the dedicated waste drum.

Q3: What should I do if my sample label falls off during storage?

Stop using the sample immediately and contact the laboratory administrator. The administrator will trace it using the storage location, processing date and user logs in the Sample Database. If it cannot be matched, the sample is marked “unidentified” and held in the quarantine area for 90 days. If no one claims it within 90 days, the laboratory has the right to dispose of it as waste. The laboratory handled 12 unidentified samples in 2023.

References

  • Geoscience Australia 2023, National Core Laboratory Annual Report
  • ANU Environment Health and Safety 2024, Laboratory Chemical Waste Management Guidelines
  • ANU Research School of Earth Sciences 2023, Internal Audit Report on Sample Storage Compliance
  • ANU Safety and Wellbeing 2024, Incident Statistics for Jaeger Building Laboratories
  • Unilink Education 2024, ANU Laboratory Access Procedures Database