MRI: Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer - Dept. of Geosciences, Franklin & Marshall College

通过重大研究仪器(MRI)计划提供的这笔赠款，为购买具有扩展波长范围双等离子体的热Jarrell Ash IRIS Advantage电感耦合Ar等离子体光谱仪(ICAP)的成本提供部分支持。该设备包括垂直方向(径向等离子体)焊枪和水平方向(轴向)焊枪的设置。这种双系统是对早期类型的ICP光谱仪的重大改进，因为使用轴向方向可以更准确地测量低波长，因此包含固定的径向等离子体炬方向。使用垂直取向的火炬配置优化了长波长分析。这一工具为本科院校提供了最大的灵活性，为不同的研究和教学需求提供服务。这种增加的灵活性增加了我们的用户基础，并确保最大限度地访问设备。资金也被分配给微钻设备，特别是带有高速精密钻头的新浪潮研究微加工系统。与容易发生用户错误的手持设备相比，微钻孔系统结合了速度和精度，从而增强了小规模采样。ICAP和微加工系统协同工作，以更准确、更精确、更快的速度、以更方便用户的方式产生数据。这在本科生的研究中很重要，因为学生投入研究的时间较少，但首先学习的是扎实的研究方法和技术。促进学习过程的工具，减少挫折和挫折，对于留住理科学生并鼓励他们继续进行研究生研究非常重要。将受益于新仪器的具体研究领域包括：寒武纪微生物碳酸盐的成岩作用；澳大利亚坎宁盆地泥盆纪生物礁碳酸盐的微量元素地球化学；火成岩长石生长分区中的微量元素分布；流域和湿地遗址(土壤和水)的微量元素化学；考古学(当地文物和硅岩来源)和艺术史(颜料斑点分析)的跨学科研究。***

0116484de WetThis grant, made through the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, provides partial support for costs of acquiring a Thermal Jarrell Ash IRIS Advantage Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer (ICAP) with Extended Wavelength Range Dual Plasma. This equipment includes settings for both a vertically oriented (radial plasma) torch and a horizontally oriented (axial) torch. Such a dual system is a significant improvement over earlier types of ICP spectrometers that contained a fixed, radial plasma torch orientation because low wavelengths can be measured more accurately using the axial orientation. Long wavelength analysis is optimized using the vertically oriented torch configuration. This instrumentation provides maximum flexibility for an undergraduate institution servicing diverse research and teaching needs. This increased flexibility increases our user base and ensures maximum access to the equipment. Funds are also allocated for microdrilling equipment, specifically a New Wave Research Micromachining System with a high speed precision drill. The microdrilling system enhances small scale sampling by combining speed and precision relative to hand-held devices that are prone to user error. Both the ICAP and micromachining system work in conjunction to produce data more accurately, more precisely, at a faster rate, in a more user-friendly manner. This is important in undergraduate research where students have less time to devote to their research, but where solid research methodologies and techniques are first learned. Instrumentation that facilitates the learning process, with fewer frustrations and set-backs, is important in retaining students in science and encouraging them to continue with graduate research. Specific research areas that will benefit from the new instrumentation include: diagenesis of Cambrian microbial carbonates; trace element geochemistry of Devonian reefal carbonates from the Canning Basin, Australia; trace element distribution in igneous feldspar growth zoning; minor element chemistry of watershed and wetland sites (soil and water); and interdisciplinary studies in Archeology (local artifacts and chert provenance), and Art History (paint fleck analysis). ***