Good Hotplate

On Wednesday there was a bad hotplate incident that melted two of my samples. As scary and destructive (for my poor Oman rocks...) as this incident was, I'm happy to report that there is some good resulting. I've filed a full safety report, and with the help of a safety person I've been in touch with Thermo Scientific, the company that manufactured the defective hotplate. Maybe it's because Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a big client, but I've been very impressed at Thermo Scientific's response so far. We have a representative working with us on our case, and the company is launching an investigation of the incident to see if there is a problem with this model of hotplate. I really hope the company follows-through with the investigation. Thermo Scientific is also offering to buy me a new hotplate, though I told them I don't want another Cimarec hotplate since I don't trust this hotplate. I almost said, "I don't want your crappy unsafe hotplate," but I managed to put it a little more tactfully than that on the phone with the representative.

So, you might be wondering, what hotplate do I want? I want a PicoTrace safety hotplate, a geochemist's dream:

The dreamy PicoTrace hotplates. Image taken from here.

What a gorgeous hotplate.... separate temperature control outside of the corrosive environment, multiple safety features and temperature limits, a maximum temperature of 265 degrees C... I could go on and on about this dreamboat hotplate.

Alas, these beautiful hotplates start at about $3,000. I'm not sure if Thermo Fisher will spring for that, but perhaps they'll at least refund our money for the two hotplates that malfunctioned, and we can put that money towards the expensive hotplate. Also, I'm pretty sure the hotplate incident has convinced everyone involved in the lab re-design and money budgeting that it's worth it to pay for the $3,000 model hotplates. Yes, the PicoTrace hotplates are expensive, but they're worth it for safety.

The Mantle MOJO

Mixing of classic mantle reservoirs in tetrahedron space, Figure 2 from Hart et al. (1992). Click to view larger.

If I ever name a mantle reservoir, I am going to call it the MOJO. Why? Because I would love to give a geochemistry talk where I discuss such-and-such volcanic rock having a mantle MOJO signature. The mantle MOJO will be the sexiest of mantle reservoirs. All geochemists will hope their rocks have a little MOJO in them. For those of you who are not familiar with meaning of the slang word "mojo," I recommend watching the Austin Powers move "The Spy Who Shagged Me" or consulting the trusty urban dictionary. 

My only problem in naming this mantle reservoir is, of course, coming up with a good definition of the acronym. Well, and actually finding some evidence for the proposed reservoir. But really, this is such a great mantle reservoir acronym that I'm sure we can find a place for it in geochemistry.

How to Wash Dishes

Teflon beakers in Aqua Regia.

Some days, I feel that I do nothing but wash dishes... I wash dishes in lab and then go home and wash more dishes. Below is my guide to washing dishes, both at home and in lab.