Acquisition of a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer with Positive and Negative Ion Capability for Geologic Research

这笔赠款为购买热电离质谱计提供了部分资金，该质谱仪将安装在德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的地质科学部。新的质谱计将使系内的几位教员和研究科学家受益，因为它能够对各种地质感兴趣的元素进行非常精确的同位素分析，如锶、钕、铅和铯。高精度同位素分析是广泛应用于地质研究的重要工具。地质物质中的同位素变化可以为从火山作用到行星分化的各种地质过程的时间安排提供重要的见解。同位素变化也是从地幔熔融耗尽到大陆岩石化学风化等地质过程的“示踪剂”。新的质谱仪将允许研究广泛的主题，从太阳系形成和早期地球分化的时间和机制，到现代核/地幔相互作用和地幔羽流的起源和性质，再到水文系统对气候变化的反应。除了满足德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校地质科学系的研究需求外，通过这笔赠款购买的质谱仪还将帮助该系履行其学术使命，为学生提供使用地质科学中使用的尖端研究技术的机会和指导。

This grant provides partial funding for the purchase of a thermal-ionization mass spectrometer to be housed in the Department of Geological Sciences at UT Austin. The new mass spectrometer will benefit several faculty and research scientists within the department by enabling the very precise isotopic analysis of a wide range of elements of geologic interest, such as Sr, Nd, Pb, and Os. High-precision isotope analysis is a critical tool utilized in a wide range of geologic research. Isotopic variations in geologic materials can provide important insights into the timing of geologic processes ranging from volcanism to planetary differentiation. Isotopic variations also serve as "tracers" of geologic processes ranging from melt depletion of the mantle to the chemical weathering of continental rocks. The new mass spectrometer will allow investigation of a wide range of topics, ranging from the timing and mechanisms of solar system formation and early Earth differentiation, to modern-day core/mantle interaction and the origin and nature of mantle plumes, to the response of hydrologic systems to climate change. In addition to serving the research needs of the Department of Geological Sciences at UT Austin, the mass spectrometer that will be acquired through this grant will also aid the Department to fulfill its academic mission by providing students access to and instruction in the use of cutting-edge research technologies utilized in the Geological Sciences.