Invited by Prof. SONG Xieyan, Senior Scientist Richard Wirth from GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences visited Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGCAS) in Guiyang from August 27 to September 9. Dr. Richard Wirth is a world famous scientist on TEM. He was the first scientist to implement FIB-TEM technique on geoscience studies. He has published more than 315 peer-review papers as well as chapters in 14 books.

Dr. Richard Wirth gave two presentations, “Nanoinclusions in Geomaterials: small particles can tell big stories” and “Microstructure and Nanoinclusions in diamond unveil diamond genesis”, in IGCAS on August 30. He pointed out the importance of FIB/TEM technique in nanoscale mineral research in geoscience and introduced his research results of inclusion in different types of diamonds.

Dr. Richard Wirth also guided the FIB experiment at the Center for Lunar and Planetary Sciences of IGCAS and had a thorough discussion with the engineers of the FIB laboratory.

During September 2 to September 8, Dr. Richard Wirth went to Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS) in Beijing with Prof. SONG Xieyan and graduate student LIANG Qinglin for TEM investigation of the FIB sections. During the experiment, besides  introducing the methods and techniques for TEM experiment in detail, he gave detailed interpretation on the observation of nano particles and inclusions within sulfide minerals and showed how to analyze the data.  The results of their FIB-TEM experiment will provide new proof for a better understanding of the occurrence state of platinum group elements in base metal sulfide.

 

Dr. Richard Wirth  also presented a talk and had discussions with the geologists in IGGCAS.