RUI: Acquisition Of An Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) And Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS)

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0111471HagemanThis grant, made through the Major Research Instrumentation Program, supports the acquisition of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (FEI-Phillips XL30 ESEM-TMP) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDAX CDU-UT), to be housed in the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State University. This instrument will significantly improve and expand research opportunities for faculty and undergraduate students in Earth Science at Appalachian State, other departments in the College, and the regional community. The new ESEM will provide the following new capabilities not currently available from our 16 year old conventional Hitachi S570 SEM. (1) imaging of uncoated specimens; (2) elemental analysis and mapping with digital stage; (3) imaging of hydrated specimens; (4) wide angle imaging of large specimens; (5) imaging and analysis under cathode luminescence; (6) high magnification in both secondary and backscattered electron modes; (7) production, storage, and network distribution of high resolution digital image files for publication and image analysis; (8) windows driven operation for easy access by a diverse user population. The ESEM will support five primary researchers in the Department of Geology, who have had previous NSF support. Initial projects supported by this proposal include (1) Bryozoan Colonial Growth Habits: Macroevolutionary Patterns in Morpho-ecospace (S.J. Hageman); (2) Ultra High Pressure and Temperature Metamorphic Rocks (R.N. Abbott); (3) Climatic Variation and Source of Glacio-marine Sediments (E.A. Cowan); (4) Eastern North American Cretaceous Bryozoans (F.K. McKinney); and (5) Cement Stratigraphy in Carbonate Mud-mounds (B.C. Schreiber). The instrument will also be used in research and course work by faculty, graduate students and undergraduates in the departments of Geology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anthropology and Criminal Justice. This instrument will provide an excellent focus for community outreach because its products are visual, tangible and derived from state-of-the-art technology. ***