High Pressure Experimental Facility for Study of Dynamic Processes in Earth's Interior

这笔赠款是通过重大研究仪器(MRI)计划提供的，为明尼苏达大学购买高压、高温实验设备以研究地球动态过程和材料特性提供部分支持。将获得的设备包括(1)一台多砧板设备，(2)一台旋转式Drickamer设备和(3)对我们现有的Paterson设备的改进，包括一个孔隙流体模块、一个扭转模块和一个物理性能模块。新设备将能够在更大范围内进行温度、压力、变形条件和流体压力的实验，以研究上地幔、下地幔和地核的动态过程。这项研究的一个中心主题将是确定与地球动态和演化相关的材料特性。重点研究领域将包括(1)地球深部条件下的流变性，包括塑性变形和变形组构的研究。这些参数对于理解地球内部的动力学是至关重要的，而实验研究需要一台多砧板设备来再现地球深处的条件。(2)变形过程中的微构造演化是解释地震各向异性的关键，需要一种能够产生包括扭转在内的一系列变形几何的变形装置。(3)流体的运输，包括熔体、铁水和水，必须进行研究才能了解地球的化学演化，需要具有可控孔压的设备。(4)矿物-硅酸盐液体平衡的相平衡性质是理解岩浆源区深部部分熔融和标定岩浆作用高压热力学模型所必需的。该设施活动的另一个组成部分将是与大学内部和工业界的材料科学家合作，研究技术材料的合成和性质。最后，研究生和博士后研究人员将使用这些最先进的实验技术进行培训，新设施还将允许扩大教育和推广活动，包括本科生研究经验、实验方法研讨会课程，以及开发与本科生教科书一起分发的CD-ROM模块，以及用于教授岩石学的模块，这些模块使用从计划实验中提炼的岩浆过程热力学模型。*

0079827KaratoThis grant, made through the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, provides partial support of the costs of acquiring high pressure, high temperature experimental equipment for studies of dynamic Earth processes and materials properties at the University of Minnesota.. The equipment to be acquired includes (1) a multianvil apparatus, (2) a rotational Drickamer apparatus and (3) modifications to our existing Paterson apparatus including a pore fluid module, a torsion module and a physical properties module. The new facility will enable experiments over a greatly expanded array of temperatures, pressures, deformation conditions, and fluid pressures for research on dynamic processes in the upper mantle, lower mantle and core. A central theme of the research will be determining materials properties related to the dynamics and evolution of the Earth. Key research areas will include (1) rheological properties under deep Earth conditions, including the study of plastic deformation and deformation-fabrics. These parameters are crucial for understanding the dynamics of the interior of the Earth, and experimental investigations require a multianvil apparatus for reproducing deep Earth conditions. (2) Microstructural evolution during deformation, which is critical for the interpretation of seismic anisotropy, requires a deformation apparatus that can create a range of deformation geometries including torsion. (3) Transport of fluids including melt, molten iron and water, which must be investigated to understand the chemical evolution of the Earth, require an apparatus with controlled pore pressure. (4) Phase equilibria properties of mineral-silicate liquid equilibria are needed for the understanding partial melting in deep portions of magma source regions and for calibrating high pressure thermodynamic models of magmatic processes. Another component of activities in the facility will be collaborations with Materials Scientists from within the university and from industry for investigations of synthesis and properties of technological materials. Finally, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers will be trained using these state-of-the art experimental techniques and the new facilities will also allow expanded education and outreach activities including undergraduate research experiences, workshop courses on experimental methods, and the development of CD-ROM modules distributed nationally with undergraduate textbooks and modules for teaching petrology using thermodynamic models of magmatic processes refined from projected experiments.***