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

该奖项是为了获得激光烧蚀系统，将耦合到最近购买的电感耦合等离子体质谱仪（ICPMS）。这种仪器组合将允许对硬质材料进行微尺度取样和分析。该仪器将推进研究计划，包括：鱼类栖息地，产卵区和迁移路径的识别（来自耳石分析）;岩石学研究中硅酸盐矿物的原位微量元素地球化学，副矿物的地球化学表征（磷灰石、独居石、锆石）在火山灰灰年代学研究中的应用;和重建深层古气候条件和灭绝生物的生活史（来自化石增生碳酸盐的原位分析，例如，软体动物、耳石、珊瑚）。除了科学影响外，仪器的好处还包括对学生（研究生和本科生，包括妇女和少数民族学生）进行环境和地质方面的教学和培训、高中教师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.