MRI: Acquisition of a state-of-the-art thermal ionization mass spectrometer

重大研究和仪器计划(MRI)的一项奖励将支持在斯克里普斯海洋研究所新成立的斯克里普斯同位素地球化学实验室购买一台热电离质谱仪(TIMS)，用于最先进的同位素测量。这一新仪器将增强圣地亚哥地区现有的质谱学设施。TIMS仪器将能够在一系列样品大小下精确测量一系列灭绝的(例如，锰-铬)、长寿命的放射性成因(例如，Os、SR、ND、铅)和稳定的同位素体系(例如，钙)，并用于一系列地质、宇宙化学、海洋学和生物过程。该仪器将用于测量火成岩的放射性同位素组成，了解行星的形成和分化，追踪地球-S地幔的化学变化，确定贵金属矿石的形成，并研究高爆炸性火山喷发期间的过程。在生物和海洋科学方面，该仪器将用于精确测量海洋生物碳酸盐骨架中的稳定同位素分馏，研究海洋酸化，并以同位素示踪热液蚀变和生物介导水-岩石相互作用。新的TIMS设施将有助于实现一项基本义务，即培训越来越多、多样化和有才华的博士后研究人员以及在圣地亚哥地区依靠同位素方法进行论文研究的研究生和本科生。它将允许通过独立的研究论文、本科课程的研究经验，以及通过将使用下一代质谱仪测量同位素比率的原理、例子和方法整合到课堂中来加强本科生的参与。最先进的TIMS还将加强正在进行的社区外联工作，包括为代表性不足的少数族裔和女学生在科学、技术、工程和数学活动中使用的示范和范例。

An award from the Major Research and Instrumentation Program (MRI) will support the acquisition of a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) for state-of-the-art isotopic measurements at the newly-formed Scripps Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This new instrumentation will enhance existing mass spectrometry facilities in the San Diego region. A TIMS instrument will allow precise measurements of a range of extinct (e.g., Mn-Cr), long-lived radiogenic (e.g., Os, Sr, Nd, Pb), and stable isotope systems (e.g., Ca) at a range of sample sizes and employed to a range of geological, cosmochemical, oceanographic and biological processes. The instrument will be used to measure radiogenic isotope compositions of igneous rocks to understand planet formation and differentiation and to trace chemical variations in Earth?s mantle, to establish the formation of precious metal ores and to investigate processes occurring during highly-explosive volcanic eruptions. In the biological and ocean sciences the instrument will be used to precisely measure stable isotope fractionations in the carbonate skeletons of marine organisms to study ocean-acidification, and to isotopically trace hydrothermal alteration and biologically mediated water-rock interactions. The new TIMS facility will help achieve a fundamental obligation to train an increasingly large, diverse and talented pool of post-doctoral researchers and graduate and undergraduate students who rely on isotopic approaches for their dissertation research in the San Diego area. It will permit enhanced undergraduate participation through independent research dissertations, research experience for undergraduate programs, and through integration of principles, examples and methods of isotope ratio measurements using next-generation mass spectrometry into the classroom. A state-of-the-art TIMS will also enhance on-going community outreach efforts, including demonstrations and examples used in science, technology, engineering and mathematics events for underrepresented minorities and female students.