A Silicon Isotope Facility

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ABSTRACTOCE-0073714 A growing interest in using silicon isotopes to study the global silicon cycle in both aquatic and terrestrial environments has emerged. Rare heavy isotopes of silicon have been used as tracers to study silica production and dissolution rates in the sea for over two decades. More recently, natural variations in isotopes of silicon have been developed as a tool for examining silica cycling in both marine and terrestrial systems. Progress in the use of isotopes of silicon as tools to better understand the global silica cycle has been slow due to the small number of investigators who have access to a mass spectrometer capable of analyzing isotopes of silicon. For this reason, the PI, a renowned leader in the development of silicon isotope capabilities, plans to establish a state-of-the-art facility for the analysis of silicon isotopes through the acquisition of a magnet-sector ratio mass spectrometer with a custom dual triple-collector and dual sample inlet system. Availability of this facility will allow the scientific community to make high precision measurements on silica dissolution rates and determine the natural abundance levels.