Acquisition of a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer

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0947220BrandonThis award provides $179,107 in NSF funding over 24 months to support partial acquisition of a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS). The instrument will be installed in recently-renovated space along with a multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The TIMS will be used for high-precision Neodymium isotope measurements in chondrites, early Earth, and planetary materials. These studies will be used to better understand Earth's early fractionation and bulk Sm/Nd in the silicate Earth. High precision Osmium isotope measurements will be made in mantle and igneous rocks to better understand early Earth Reniun/Osmium and Platinum/Osmium ratios in the Earth's interior. Re-Os isotope systematics will be used as a precise chronometer to elucidate sediment formation and hydrocarbon migration and will be applied to mantle and igneous rocks to determine the timing of Earth's interior geochemical processes. Additionally, Sm-Nd isotope chronology will be assessed in metamorphic rocks. The TIMS will also be applied to U-Pb isotope chronology. The new instrument will support students through faculty mentoring, coursework and internship programs. Additionally, the research efforts will provide hands-on use for graduate students and post-docs. The instrument will interface with the Houston Alliance for Minority Participation Project funded by NSF. Collaborations within UH and with Rice and NASA will also be supported. UH will provide a new renovated laboratory with clean lab capabilities for this effort. UH will also support half of a laboratory technician salary. ***