Topics covered in this workshop include:

• Introduction to sample preparation requirements for cold stage, including the need for thin metal coats which are mechanically able to withstand the stress of being cooled and any changes in sample while cooling.
• Introduction to how cryo-cooled specimen stages use cool nitrogen gas, in preference to liquid nitrogen, to reduce mechanical vibration and to decouple from the cryogenic liquid supply. The discussion will include cryo-stage design to minimise mechanical drift.
• Discussion on minimising ice formation on the cryogenically cooled sample surface, including best practices and strategies to remove ice.
• Theory and practice of cryo-microanalysis or the analysis of minerals with high water content. These minerals cannot have accurate microanalysis performed at room temperature. Many secondary highly hydrated minerals suffer for beam instability at room temperature.
• Demonstration of cryo-CL imaging where we see 5-10 times increases in cathodoluminescence emission due to the removal of thermal robbing processes.