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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian Microbeam Standards

The Department of Mineral Sciences distributes sets of well-characterized, widely used reference samples for microbeam analysis. Though not technically standards, these reference materials are referred to as the Smithsonian Microbeam Standards (SMS). As of 2002, 750 requests for the SMS have been made, resulting in the distribution of about 11,000 samples to laboratories worldwide.

The existence of the SMS is due largely to the work of former Smithsonian employee Eugene Jarosewich and his collaborators. Information about the history of the SMS, as well as specifics about individual samples, can be found in the list of references below.

Availability and requests

The Smithsonian Microbeam Standards are available to laboratories free of charge. To request them, fill out the Smithsonian Microbeam Standard Availability and Request Form and e-mail the completed form to Tim Rose. Because there is a limited quantity of each standard, please request only materials required for your work. Some materials are in short supply and will become unavailable in the future.

Please consult the departmental Loan Policy for additional information on the terms and conditions for receiving material from the Department of Mineral Sciences, including citation requirements for publications.

Datasheets

Basic information about the Smithsonian Microbeam Standards is summarized in the table below. Detailed information about each standard is available in the following documents:

Sample name Catalog # Other # Locality Size fractions SEM EDS
Anorthite NMNH 137041 - Great Sitkin Island, Alaska, USA
  • 0.841 mm - 0.250 mm
  • 0.250 mm - 0.177 mm
 SEM EDS
Anorthoclase NMNH 133868 - Kakanui, New Zealand
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Chromium augite NMNH 164905 - Nye County, Nevada, USA
  • < 0.25 mm
  • 0.25 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 1.00 mm
 SEM EDS
Kakanui augite NMNH 122142 - Kakanui, New Zealand
  • 0.42 mm - 0.25 mm
  • 0.3 mm - 0.25 mm
  • 0.18 mm - 0.13 mm
  • > 0.3 mm
 SEM EDS
Benitoite NMNH 86539 - San Benito Co., California, USA
  • > 1.19 mm
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • > 0.5 mm
 SEM EDS
Calcite NMNH 136321 - Unknown
  • 0.42 mm - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Chromite NMNH 117075 - Tiebaghi Mine, New Caledonia
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Diopside NMNH 117733 - Natural Bridge, New York, USA
  • > 1.0 mm
  • 1.0 mm - 0.42 mm
 SEM EDS
Dolomite NMNH R10057 - Oberdorf, Austria
  • 0.42 mm - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Fayalite NMNH 85276 - Rockport, Massachusetts, USA
  • Tiny grains (see image)
 SEM EDS
Fluorapatite NMNH 104021 - Durango, Mexico
  • 0.250 mm - 0.177 mm
  • 0.177 mm - 0.149 mm
 SEM EDS
Gahnite NMNH 145883 - Brazil
  • > 0.25 mm
  • 0.25 mm - 0.177 mm
 SEM EDS
Basaltic glass NMNH 111240-52 VG-2 Juan de Fuca Ridge
  • 1.0 mm - 2.0 mm
  • > 0.350 mm
 SEM EDS
Basaltic glass NMNH 113498-1 A-99 Makaopuhi Lava Lake, Hawaii, USA
  • 2.0 mm - 0.841 mm
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.840 mm - 0.42 mm
 SEM EDS
Basaltic glass NMNH 113716-1 - Indian Ocean
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
 SEM EDS
Corning Glass A NMNH 117218-4 - None (synthetic)
  • 1.0 mm - 2 mm
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.50 mm - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Corning Glass B NMNH 117218-1 - None (synthetic)
  • Cubes that can be chipped
  • 2.0 mm - 1.0 mm
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Corning Glass C NMNH 117218-2 - None (synthetic)
  • Cubes that can be chipped
  • 2.0 mm - 1.0 mm
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Corning Glass D NMNH 117218-3 - None (synthetic)
  • Cubes that can be chipped
  • 2.0 mm - 1.0 mm
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Corning Glass IR-V NMNH 117083 - None (synthetic)
  • 1.68 mm - 0.707 mm
  • 0.710 mm - 0.500 mm
 SEM EDS
Corning Glass IR-W NMNH 117084 - None (synthetic)
  • Rods that can be chipped
  • 1.00 mm - 0.710 mm
  • 0.710 mm - 0.500 mm
 SEM EDS
Corning Glass IR-X NMNH 117085 - None (synthetic)
  • Rods that can be chipped
  • 1.68 mm - 0.710 mm
  • 0.710 mm - 0.500 mm
 SEM EDS
Rhyolitic glass NMNH 72854 VG 568 Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
  • 1.0 mm - 2.0 mm
  • 0.42 mm - 0.25 mm
  • 0.25 mm - 0.149 mm
 SEM EDS
Tektite glass USNM 2213 - None (synthetic)
  • 1.00 - 0.5 mm
  • 0.50 - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Grossular garnet NMNH 87375 - Roberts Victor Mine, South Africa
  • 0.125 mm - ~0.088 mm
 SEM EDS
Arenal hornblende NMNH 111356 - Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
  • 0.5 mm - 0.25 mm
  • 0.25 mm - 0.149 mm
  • 0.149 mm - 0.074 mm
 SEM EDS
Kakanui hornblende NMNH 143965 - Kakanui, New Zealand
  • 0.590 mm - 0.420 mm
  • > 0.420 mm
  • 0.420 mm - 0.297 mm
  • 0.420 mm - 0.250 mm
  • 0.297 mm - 0.177 mm
  • 0.250 mm - 0.177 mm
  • 0.177 mm - 0.125 mm
 SEM EDS
Hypersthene USNM 746 - Johnstown (meteorite)
  • Unsized crushed material
 SEM EDS
Ilmenite NMNH 96189 - Ilmen Mountains, Russia
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 0.25 mm
  • 0.25 mm - 0.177 mm
 SEM EDS
Magnetite NMNH 114887 - Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 0.25 mm
  • 0.25 mm - 0.177 mm
  • < 0.177 mm
 SEM EDS
Meionite NMNH R6600 - Brazil
  • 0.25 mm - 0.177 mm
  • > 0.177 mm
 SEM EDS
Microcline NMNH 143966 - Unknown
  • 0.177 mm - 0.125 mm
  • 0.125 mm - 0.066 mm
 SEM EDS
San Carlos olivine NMNH 111312-44 - San Carlos, Arizona, USA
  • 0.25 mm - 0.177 mm
 SEM EDS
Springwater olivine USNM 2566 - Springwater (meteorite)
  • 0.42 mm - 0.25 mm
  • > 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Omphacite NMNH 110607 - Roberts Victor Mine, South Africa
  • Fragments of variable size
 SEM EDS
Osumulite NMNH 143967 - Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
  • fragments of unknown size
 SEM EDS
Plagioclase NMNH 115900 - Lake County, Oregon, United States
  • > 0.149 mm
 SEM EDS
Pyrope NMNH 143968 - Kakanui, New Zealand
  • 0.840 mm - 0.590 mm
  • 0.590 mm - 0.420 mm
  • 0.420 mm - 0.297 mm
  • 0.297 mm - 0.250 mm
 SEM EDS
Quartz NMNH R17701 - Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
  • 0.25 mm - 0.177 mm
 SEM EDS
Siderite NMNH R2460 - Ivigtut, Greenland
  • 0.42 - 0.25 mm
 SEM EDS
Strontianite NMNH R10065 - Oberdorf, Austria
  • 1.0 mm - 0.5 mm
  • 0.5 mm - 0.42 mm
 SEM EDS
Synthetic corundum NMNH 135602 - None (synthetic)
  • 0.250 mm - ~0.177 mm
 SEM EDS
Zircon NMNH 117288-3 - Strangeway Range, Australia
  • > 0.50 mm
  • > 0.297 mm
  • > 0.177 mm
 SEM EDS

REE phosphates

Sample name Catalog # Other # Locality Size fractions SEM EDS
Cerium phosphate NMNH 168484 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Dysprosium phosphate NMNH 168485 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Erbium phosphate NMNH 168486 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Europium phosphate NMNH 168487 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Gadolinium phosphate NMNH 168488 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Holmium phosphate NMNH 168489 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Lanthanum phosphate NMNH 168490 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Lutetium phosphate NMNH 168491 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Neodymium phosphate NMNH 168492 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Praseodymium phosphate NMNH 168493 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Samarium phosphate NMNH 168494 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Scandium phosphate NMNH 168495 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Terbium phosphate NMNH 168496 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Thulium phosphate NMNH 168497 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Ytterbium phosphate NMNH 168498 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS
Yttrium phosphate NMNH 168499 - None (synthetic)
  • Grain sizes available are highly variable as the materials are unsieved
 SEM EDS

References

  • Carpenter, P., Counce, D., Kluk, E., and Nabelek, C. (2002) Characterization of Corning EPMA Standard Glasses 95IRV, 95IRW, and 95IRX. J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol., 107: 703–718. doi:10.6028/jres.107.057.
  • Donovan, J. D., Hanchar, J. M., Picolli, P. M., Schrier, M. D., Boatner, L. A., and Jarosewich, E. (2002) Contamination in the Rare-Earth Element Orthophosphate Reference Samples. J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol., 107: 693–701. doi:10.6028/jres.107.056.
  • Donovan, J. D., Hanchar, J. M., Picolli, P. M., Schrier, M. D., Boatner, L. A., and Jarosewich, E. (2003) A re-examination of the rare-earth-element orthophosphate standards in use for electron-microprobe analysis. The Canadian Mineralogist, 41(1): 221-232. doi:10.2113/gscanmin.41.1.221.
  • Jarosewich, E., Nalen, J. A., and Norberg, J. A..(1980) Reference Samples for Electron Microprobe Analysis. Geostandards Newsletter, 4: 43-47. doi:10.1111/j.1751-908X.1980.tb00273.x.
  • Jarosewich, E. and McIntyre, I. G. (1983) Carbonate Reference Samples for Electron Microprobe and Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 53(2):677-678. doi:10.1306/212F828D-2B24-11D7-8648000102C1865D.
  • Jarosewich, E., Gooley, R., and Husler, J. (1987) Chromium Augite ‐ A New Microprobe Reference Sample. Geostandards Newsletter, 11: 197-198. doi:10.1111/j.1751-908X.1987.tb00027.x.
  • Jarosewich, E. and White, J. S. (1987) Strontianite Reference Sample for Electron Microprobe and SEM Analyses. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 57(4): 762-763. doi:10.1306/212F8C10-2B24-11D7-8648000102C1865D.
  • Jarosewich, E. and Boatner, L. (1991), Rare‐Earth Element Reference Samples for Electron Microprobe Analysis. Geostandards Newsletter, 15: 397-399. doi:10.1111/j.1751-908X.1991.tb00115.x.
  • Jarosewich, E. (2002) Smithsonian Microbeam Standards. J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol., 107: 681–685. doi:10.6028/jres.107.054.
  • Vicenzi, E. P., Eggins, S., Logan, A., and Wysoczanski, R. (2002) Microbeam Characterization of Corning Archeological Reference Glasses: A New Addition to the Smithsonian Microbeam Standard Collection. J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol., 107: 719–727. doi:10.6028/jres.107.058.