Laser Technology to Test Soil's Content
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Technology
X-ray fluorescent spectrometer to tell researchers what kinds of metals are in the soil
It is straight out of a James Bond novel: A laser gun that instantaneously analyses the contents of soil. It is being used to track soil contaminates after the Animas River spill.
"[It is a] Portable X-ray fluorescent spectrometer," said Dr. David Weindorf, Associate Dean of Research at Texas Tech University.
It is a piece of equipment resembling a cordless drill, which Weindorf and his team are using to look at the impact from the Animas River spill.
The team came all the way from Texas Tech to find out exactly what elements in the orange water were deposited in San Juan County.
"What we want to do is make sure that soils are safe for food and fiber production; that's everyone's concern," said Weindorf.
Weindorf and two others from Texas Tech, in partnership with New Mexico State University and the Natural Resource Conversation Service, has been testing soil on farms up and down the Animas and San Juan River corridor with the spectrometer.
It only takes 60 seconds for the portable X-ray fluorescent spectrometer to tell researchers what kinds of metals are in the soil.
Source: Kob
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