MRI: Acquisition of a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer to Support National Multi-User Access to High-Precision U-Th-Pb Geochronology

这项来自重大研究仪器计划(MRI)的合同提供资金，为博伊西州立大学地球科学系同位素地质实验室(IGL)购买一台多收集器热电离质谱计(TIMS)，作为创建国家高精度地质年代学多用户设施的下一步。IGL致力于通过应用高精度的U-Th-Pb年代学和放射性同位素示踪剂来校准地球历史和量化地质过程的速率。自成立以来，国际地球物理实验室通过其与EARTHTIME地球历史校准倡议的努力，确立了自己在同位素地质年代学领域的关键节点地位。所要求的仪器将补充同位素地质实验室现有的TIMS和LA-ICPMS设备，并将专门负责扩大社区获得高精度U-Th-Pb地质年代学的机会。该仪器将配备最新的离子计数和高欧姆法拉第放大技术，以继续在精确和准确地分析非常少量的母体和子体同位素方面进行创新。国际地球物理实验室分析基础设施的扩大将有助于满足各国用户日益增长的地质年代学需求，用于最先进的应用领域，包括：用于年代地层学、古生物学和古气候学的高精度高精度U-Pb测年；碎屑锆石的串联原位分析(离子微探头或LA-ICPMS)和化学磨损TIMS分析，以严格限制最大年龄限制；将现场地球化学和同位素分析与对同一颗粒的高精度分析相结合，以探索硅质火山和深成岩浆作用；以及现场地质年代学和地球化学的矿物标准物质的表征和校准。扩大同位素地质实验室的仪器基础是一项合理的投资，利用现有的基础设施，在新建的环境研究大楼中建立一个更大的实验室，一个特殊的技术支持人员基础，以及一个有效和成功的成本回收管理计划。InReach将继续以学生和职业生涯早期科学家培训和多学科整合为中心。同位素地质实验室还将继续举办一系列面对面和基于网络的教育和外联活动，包括通过非正式科学教育中心合作伙伴向中学生和社区成员提供基于研究的科学课程，以及一系列基于网络的学习对象，以教授地质年代学和地球历史。

This award from the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) provides funds to acquire a Multi-Collector Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) for the Isotope Geology Laboratory (IGL) of the Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, as the next step in creating a national multi-user facility for high-precision geochronology. The IGL is dedicated to the calibration of Earth history and quantification of the rates of geological processes through the application of high-precision U-Th-Pb geochronology and radiogenic isotope tracers. Since its creation, the IGL has established itself as a critical node in the isotope geochronological community through its efforts with the EARTHTIME Initiative for the Calibration of Earth History. The requested instrument will complement the existing TIMS and LA-ICPMS equipment in the Isotope Geology Laboratory, and will be specifically tasked with expanding community access to high-precision U-Th-Pb geochronology. The instrumentation will be configured with the latest in ion-counting and high-ohmic Faraday amplifier technology, to continue innovations in the precise and accurate analysis of very small amounts of parent and daughter isotopes. Expansion of the analytical infrastructure of the IGL will help to meet the burgeoning geochronology needs of the national user community, for state-of-the-art applications including: high-precision, high-accuracy U-Pb dating for chronostratigraphy, paleobiology and paleoclimatology; tandem in situ (ion microprobe or LA-ICPMS) and chemical abrasion TIMS analysis of detrital zircons for robust maximum age constraints; coupling of in situ geochemical and isotopic analyses to high-precision analyses of the same grains to explore silicic volcanic and plutonic igneous processes; and the characterization and calibration of mineral standard materials for in situ geochronology and geochemistry. Expanding the instrumentation base of the Isotope Geology Laboratory is a sound investment capitalizing on existing infrastructure, a larger laboratory in the newly constructed Environmental Research Building, an exceptional personnel base of technical support, and a working and successful cost recovery management plan. Inreach to the scientific community will continue to center around student and early-career scientist training and multi-disciplinary integration. The Isotope Geology Laboratory will also continue to host a portfolio of in-person and web-based education and outreach activities including research-based science lessons to middle and high school students and community members via informal science education center partners, and a series of web-based learning objects to teach the science of geochronology and Earth history.