MRI: Aquisition of a Laser-Ablation System for High Resolution, Micro-Scale Analyses of Environmental Materials

该合同用于购买激光消融系统，该系统将与最近购买的电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICPMS)相耦合。这种仪器的组合将允许对硬材料进行微尺度采样和分析。该仪器将推进研究项目，包括：(通过耳石分析)识别鱼类栖息地、产卵区和迁徙路径；岩石学研究中硅酸盐矿物的原位微量元素地球化学；火山灰年代学研究中副矿物(磷灰石、独居石、锆石)的地球化学特征；以及重建深层古气候条件和灭绝生物的生活史(通过对软体动物、耳石、珊瑚等增生碳酸盐化石的原位分析)。除了其科学影响外，仪器的好处还包括对环境和地质背景的学生(研究生和本科生，包括妇女和少数族裔学生)进行教学和培训，对高中教师进行培训，以及向自然资源管理机构提供外联服务。

This award is for the acquisition of a laser-ablation system, to be coupled to a recently purchased inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS). This combination of instruments will allow for micro-scale sampling and analysis of hard materials. The instrumentation will advance research programs, including: identification of fish habitat, spawning areas, and migration pathways (from otolith analysis); in situ trace element geochemistry of silicate minerals in petrological studies, geochemical characterization of accessory minerals (apatite, monazite, zircon) in tephrochronological studies of volcanic ash; and reconstruction of deep-time paleoclimate conditions and life histories of extinct organisms (from in situ analysis of fossil accretionary carbonates, e.g., mollusks, otoliths, corals). In addition to its scientific impacts, the benefits from the instrumentation will include teaching and training of students (graduate and undergraduate, including women and minority students) in both environmental and geological backgrounds, high-school teacher training, and outreach service to natural resources management agencies.