Continuation of a Facility: Institute for Rock Magnetism

地球材料——岩石、沉积物、土壤——都含有微量的磁性矿物。这些矿物的性质（化学成分、粒度、浓度）是由地质过程和条件决定的，在这些地质过程和条件下，岩石/沉积物最初形成并随后受到影响。在不同温度和外加磁场条件下，对岩石/沉积物样品进行实验室测量，可以定量分析痕量磁性矿物特征，并为重建其历史提供有价值的信息。自然物质磁研究在广泛的科学领域具有重要的应用，包括古气候和古环境研究，古地理重建大陆和海洋构造板块的过去位置，以及地球磁场的历史。这笔拨款将在未来五年内继续支持明尼苏达大学岩石磁学研究所（IRM）。IRM （http://www.geo.umn.edu/orgs/irm/irm.html）是对岩石、沉积物和矿物的磁性进行深入基础研究的领先国际机构。最先进的仪器组合可以通过在温度，时间和外加磁场的广泛变化条件下的测量来进行详细的磁性表征。irm驻地科学家的研究与访问研究员的研究相辅相成，访问研究员是通过全球地球科学社区的竞争性提案程序选出的。IRM还通过组织技术研讨会和研究会议、开发和维护地质材料磁性的公共数据库以及通过网站和季刊提供与研究有关的新闻和信息，加强地球科学的研究基础设施

0218384BanerjeeEarth materials - rocks, sediments, soils - all contain magnetic minerals in trace amounts. The properties of these minerals (chemical composition, grain size, concentration) are determined by the geologic processes and conditions under which the rocks/sediments originally formed and by which they have been subsequently affected. Laboratory measurements of bulk rock/sediment samples, under different conditions of temperature and applied magnetic fields, enable quantitative analysis of the trace magnetic mineral characteristics, and yields valuable information for reconstructing their history. Natural-material magnetic research has important applications over a broad expanse of science, including paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental research, paleogeographic reconstruction of the past locations of the continents and oceanic tectonic plates, and the history of the Earth's magnetic field. This grant provides for continued support of the Institute for Rock Magnetism (IRM) at the University of Minnesota over the next five years. The IRM (http://www.geo.umn.edu/orgs/irm/irm.html) is the leading international facility for in-depth fundamental research on the magnetic properties of rocks, sediments and minerals. A state-of-the-art assemblage of instruments allows detailed magnetic characterization through measurements under widely-varying conditions of temperature, time and applied magnetic field. Research by IRM-resident scientists is complemented by that of Visiting Fellows, selected through a competitive proposal process from the global geoscience community. The IRM also enhances the research infrastructure for Earth sciences by organizing technical workshops and research conferences, developing and maintaining a public database of magnetic properties of geomaterials, and providing research-related news and information through a web site and quarterly newsletter.***