The Laboratory of Sample Preparation serves as the primary mechanical and physical processing facility within the analytical pipeline, converting macro-scale, unweathered lithological field specimens into the highly constrained geometries and high-purity grain separates required for downstream analysis. The facility features four integrated sub-units: mechanical comminution and sizing to strip away surficial contamination using diamond-blade rock saws; ultra-fine pulverization using jaw crushers and planetary ball mills to generate homogeneous whole-rock powders for XRF and ICP-MS; petrographic thin section fabrication to produce standard sections and highly polished epoxy pucks for optical and electron-beam microanalysis; and a mineral separation line using wet-shaking tables, heavy liquids, and magnetic separators to isolate pure accessory phases like zircon and monazite for isotopic geochronology.