The Micro Analytical Facility consists of two labs:  a Lapidary Laboratory (sample preparation) and a Scanning Electron Microscope Laboratory. The labs are used for ore mineralogy, chemistry, characterization, imaging, genesis and exploration and petroleum science, 3D stratigraphy. Research services for these labs include 3D stratigraphy, reservoir characterization, mineral deposits genesis and modeling, hydrothermal alteration studies, mineral exploration and development, topographic and compositional imaging for minerals, fossils and other materials, ore characterization and metal distributions, mineral and metallurgical characterization, concentrate and tailings characterization.

The Facility houses a JEOL JSM-6390LV/GS Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with an Oxford Instruments INCA x-act Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) X-ray detector as well as high quality analytical and imaging packages.

The Astronomy Lab is where the telescope on the roof of McMaster in run.  The Astronomical Observatory and all of its equipment is tied to the Lab.  The Lab houses computers with specialized software for scientific data processing for data from the BU telescope that students use for research projects and lab projects. 

The Observatory houses a high resolution reflector telescope.

The Functional Genomics Laboratory is equipped for basic and clinical research in areas of gene expression and genotyping. Applications such as gene expression analysis, determination of viral load, detection of genetically modified organisms, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, genotyping and allelic discrimination are possible. As well, the laboratory is dedicated to the support of in vitro cell culture and contains a biological safety cabinet that is certified to handle agents requiring a level 2 biocontainment.

The Lab houses a Rotor-Gene 6500 real time PCR system; class II biological safety cabinet; carbon dioxide incubator with HEPA filter and infrared technology; refrigerated microcentrifuges; gradient thermal cycler; Bioplex suspension array system, workstation and manager software; biolistic particle delivery system (i.e., gene gun); Protean IEF system and protean II 2-D cell; Helixtree genetic analysis software; inverted fluorescent microscope; epifluorescent stereoscope with motion tracking software and camera; DTX multimode microplate reader; ultra low temperature freezer; and a ventilated HEPA-filtered cage system

The Ecotoxicology and Health Assessment Lab enables research in the control of parasitic diseases caused by helminths and protozoans and examines the role of molecules and the environment in these infections.

The Lab houses a benchtop research-grade aquatic system (Aquaneering).

The Lab provides state-of-the-art petrographic, chemical analytical, and micro-imaging facilities and services for the minerals, mining and petroleum sectors, including applied research, exploration and development.

The Lab houses Petrographic microscopes, Fluid inclusion apparatus, Portable X-ray diffractometer plus XRF, Cathodoluminescence apparatus, Printing and imaging facilities and Portable XRF analyzer.

The Mycology Research Laboratory is a Level II Containment facility housing equipment to characterize vertebrate-associated microfungi and is equipped for faculty conducting research in molecular systematic.

The Lab houses an Applied Biosystems 3100 Genetic Analyzer, Applied Biosystems GeneAmp PCR 9700 Thermocyclers (2), Labconco Freeze Drier, Forma Biosafety Cabinet, IEC Centra Refrigerated Centrifug, IEC Refrigerated Microcentrifuge, Nikon Eclipse E400 Fluorescent Compound Microscope (Ahmad laboratory, Forma Incubator Shaker (Ardelli laboratory), Geringe Castle Autoclave (shared services), Scotsman Ice Machine (shared services), and Synegene GeneGenius Gel Documentation System (shared services).

The Archaeological Residue Analaysis Laboratory is used for lipid analysis of ancient organic residues. Lipid components (fatty acids, sterols, triacylglycerols, terpenes) of residues extracted from artifacts or archaeological features are analyzed in order to address questions about the residue source or artifact/feature function.

The Lab houses a Varian 3800 gas chromatograph.

The Environmental Science Labs are state-of-the-art analytical and microscopy suites that support research and research training in both soil biology and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.

The analytical suite includes a Leco Truspec,  Shimadzu, Astoria segmented flow, Varian ICP OES, and Biotek cell plate spectrophotometer.  The microscopy suite includes an Olympus fluorescence microscopy suite, state of the art analytical instrumentation for analyzing soil and plant tissues, and a Conviron™ growth chamber.