diff --git a/baystation12.dme b/baystation12.dme
index 4e38f3f01c..d808420785 100644
--- a/baystation12.dme
+++ b/baystation12.dme
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@
 #define FILE_DIR "icons/vending_icons"
 #define FILE_DIR "interface"
 #define FILE_DIR "maps"
+#define FILE_DIR "maps/backup"
 #define FILE_DIR "maps/RandomZLevels"
 #define FILE_DIR "sound"
 #define FILE_DIR "sound/AI"
@@ -1159,17 +1160,23 @@
 #include "code\modules\research\research.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\research_shuttle.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\server.dm"
+#include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\analysis_machinery.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\archaeo_analysis.dm"
+#include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\archaeo_chem.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\archaeo_excavate.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\archaeo_tools.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\artifact_analysis.dm"
-#include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\artifact_archaeo.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\artifact_db.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\artifact_effect.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\artifact_harvester.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\artifact_misc.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\artifact_synthetic.dm"
 #include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\artifacts.dm"
+#include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\core_sampler.dm"
+#include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\finds.dm"
+#include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\geosample.dm"
+#include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\readme.dm"
+#include "code\modules\research\xenoarchaeology\tools.dm"
 #include "code\modules\scripting\Errors.dm"
 #include "code\modules\scripting\IDE.dm"
 #include "code\modules\scripting\Options.dm"
diff --git a/code/modules/chemical/Chemistry-Reagents.dm b/code/modules/chemical/Chemistry-Reagents.dm
index cf73008cf3..9bf24253ce 100644
--- a/code/modules/chemical/Chemistry-Reagents.dm
+++ b/code/modules/chemical/Chemistry-Reagents.dm
@@ -657,20 +657,6 @@ datum
 			reagent_state = SOLID
 			color = "#832828" // rgb: 131, 40, 40
 
-		tungsten	//used purely to make lith-sodi-tungs, which is used in xenoarch
-			name = "Tungsten"
-			id = "tungsten"
-			description = "A chemical element, and a strong oxidising agent."
-			reagent_state = SOLID
-			color = "#808080" // rgb: 128, 128, 128, meant to be a silvery grey but idrc
-
-		lithiumsodiumtungstate
-			name = "Lithium Sodium Tungstate"
-			id = "lithiumsodiumtungstate"
-			description = "A reducing agent for geological compounds."
-			reagent_state = LIQUID
-			color = "#808080" // rgb: 128, 128, 128, again, silvery grey
-
 		lithium
 			name = "Lithium"
 			id = "lithium"
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/mine_turfs.dm b/code/modules/mining/mine_turfs.dm
index 0f8e37f2c6..428d625769 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/mine_turfs.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/mine_turfs.dm
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 	var/spread = 0 //will the seam spread?
 	var/spreadChance = 0 //the percentual chance of an ore spreading to the neighbouring tiles
 	var/artifactChance = 0.3	//percent chance to spawn a xenoarchaelogical artifact
+	var/datum/geosample/geological_data		//todo: set this up
 
 /turf/simulated/mineral/Del()
 	return
diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/archaeo_chem.dm b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/archaeo_chem.dm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..527f8b89de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/archaeo_chem.dm
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+
+//chemistry stuff here so that it can be easily viewed/modified
+datum
+	reagent
+		tungsten	//used purely to make lith-sodi-tungs
+			name = "Tungsten"
+			id = "tungsten"
+			description = "A chemical element, and a strong oxidising agent."
+			reagent_state = SOLID
+			color = "#808080" // rgb: 128, 128, 128, meant to be a silvery grey but idrc
+
+		lithiumsodiumtungstate
+			name = "Lithium Sodium Tungstate"
+			id = "lithiumsodiumtungstate"
+			description = "A reducing agent for geological compounds."
+			reagent_state = LIQUID
+			color = "#808080" // rgb: 128, 128, 128, again, silvery grey
+
+		ground_rock
+			name = "Ground Rock"
+			id = "ground_rock"
+			description = "A fine dust made of ground up geological samples."
+			reagent_state = SOLID
+			color = "#C81040" 	//rgb: 200, 16, 64
+								//todo: make this brown
+
+		density_separated_sample
+			name = "Density separated sample"
+			id = "density_separated_sample"
+			description = "A watery paste which has had density separation applied to its contents."
+			reagent_state = LIQUID
+			color = "#C81040" 	//rgb: 200, 16, 64
+								//todo: make this white
+
+		analysis_sample
+			name = "Analysis sample"
+			id = "analysis_sample"
+			description = "A watery paste used in chemical analysis."
+			reagent_state = LIQUID
+			color = "#C81040" 	//rgb: 200, 16, 64
+								//todo: make this white
+
+		chemical_waste
+			name = "Chemical Waste"
+			id = "chemical_waste"
+			description = "A viscous, toxic liquid left over from many chemical processes."
+			reagent_state = LIQUID
+			color = "#C81040" 	//rgb: 200, 16, 64
+								//todo: make this fluoro/bright green
+
+datum
+	chemical_reaction
+		lithiumsodiumtungstate	//LiNa2WO4, not the easiest chem to mix
+			name = "Lithium Sodium Tungstate"
+			id = "lithiumsodiumtungstate"
+			result = "lithiumsodiumtungstate"
+			required_reagents = list("lithium" = 1, "sodium" = 2, "tungsten" = 1, "oxygen" = 4)
+			result_amount = 8
+
+		density_separated_liquid
+			name = "Density separated sample"
+			id = "density_separated_sample"
+			result = "density_separated_sample"
+			secondary_results = list("chemical_waste" = 1)
+			required_reagents = list("ground_rock" = 1, "lithiumsodiumtungstate" = 2)
+			result_amount = 2
+
+		analysis_liquid
+			name = "Analysis sample"
+			id = "analysis_sample"
+			result = "analysis_sample"
+			secondary_results = list("chemical_waste" = 1)
+			required_reagents = list("density_separated_sample" = 5)
+			result_amount = 4
+			requires_heating = 1
diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/core_sampler.dm b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/core_sampler.dm
index 5bd59edc65..2422edca3a 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/core_sampler.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/core_sampler.dm
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@
 		user << "\red The core sampler is out of sample bags!"
 	else
 		filled_bag = new /obj/item/weapon/storage/samplebag(src)
-		//sampled_turf = src.type
 		icon_state = "sampler1"
 
 		for(var/i=0, i<7, i++)
 			var/obj/item/weapon/rocksliver/R = new(filled_bag)
 			R.source_rock = T.type
+			R.geological_data = T.geological_data
 
 		user << "\blue You take a core sample of the [T]."
 
diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/finds.dm b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/finds.dm
index 10133da659..b50ae6cf3a 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/finds.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/finds.dm
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 	icon = 'mining.dmi'
 	icon_state = "sliver0"	//0-4
 	//item_state = "electronic"
-	var/source_rock = "/turf/simulated/mineral"
+	var/source_rock = "/turf/simulated/mineral/archaeo"
 	item_state = ""
 	var/datum/geosample/geological_data
 
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 /obj/item/weapon/ore/strangerock
 	var/datum/geosample/geological_data
+	var/source_rock = "/turf/simulated/mineral"
 
 /obj/item/weapon/ore/strangerock/New()
 	..()
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@
 	src.visible_message("The [src] crumbles away, leaving some dust and gravel behind.")
 
 /obj/item/weapon/ore/strangerock/attackby(obj/item/weapon/W as obj, mob/user as mob)
+
 	if(istype(W,/obj/item/weapon/weldingtool/))
 		var/obj/item/weapon/weldingtool/w = W
 		if(w.isOn() && (w.get_fuel() > 3))
@@ -61,6 +63,22 @@
 					M.show_message("\blue A few sparks fly off the rock, but otherwise nothing else happens.",1)
 		w.remove_fuel(4)
 
+	else if(istype(W,/obj/item/device/core_sampler/))
+		var/obj/item/device/core_sampler/S = W
+		if(S.filled_bag)
+			user << "\red The core sampler is full!"
+		else if(S.num_stored_bags < 1)
+			user << "\red The core sampler is out of sample bags!"
+		else
+			S.filled_bag = new /obj/item/weapon/storage/samplebag(S)
+			S.icon_state = "sampler1"
+
+			for(var/i=0, i<7, i++)
+				var/obj/item/weapon/rocksliver/R = new /obj/item/weapon/rocksliver(S.filled_bag)
+				R.source_rock = src.source_rock
+				R.geological_data = src.geological_data
+			user << "\blue You take a core sample of the [src]."
+
 /obj/item/weapon/ore/strangerock/acid_act(var/datum/reagent/R)
 	if(src.method)
 		if(inside)
diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/geosample.dm b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/geosample.dm
index 97cf9a2047..cf45b88b24 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/geosample.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenoarchaeology/geosample.dm
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 
 datum/geosample
+	var/scrambled = 0	//if this sample has been mixed with other samples
+	//
 	var/age_thousand = 1					//age can correspond to different artifacts
 	var/age_million = 0
 	var/age_billion = 0
@@ -36,4 +38,5 @@ datum/geosample/proc/UpdateTurf(var/turf/simulated/mineral/container)
 			age_million = rand(1,999)
 			age_billion = rand(10, 13)
 		if("Archaeo")
-			//speshul
+			//snowflake
+			age_thousand = rand(1,999)
diff --git a/icons/obj/chemical.dmi b/icons/obj/chemical.dmi
index c3c0752682..5e545edb9e 100644
Binary files a/icons/obj/chemical.dmi and b/icons/obj/chemical.dmi differ