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

该奖项来自主要研究仪器项目（MRI），为博伊西州立大学地球科学系同位素地质实验室（IGL）购买多收集器热电离质谱仪（TIMS）提供资金，作为创建高精度地质年代学的国家多用户设备的下一步。IGL致力于通过应用高精度U-Th-Pb地质年代学和放射性成因同位素示踪剂来校准地球历史和定量地质过程的速率。自成立以来，IGL通过与地球历史校准倡议（EARTHTIME Initiative for the Calibration of Earth History）的合作，已成为同位素地质年代学界的一个关键节点。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器技术，以继续创新，对极少量的母同位素和子同位素进行精确和准确的分析。IGL分析基础设施的扩展将有助于满足国家用户群体日益增长的地质年代学需求，用于最先进的应用，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；原位串联（离子探针或LA-ICPMS）和化学磨损TIMS分析碎屑锆石的最大年龄约束；将原位地球化学和同位素分析与同一颗粒的高精度分析相结合，探索硅质火山和深部火成岩作用；以及原位地质年代学和地球化学矿物标准材料的表征和定标。扩大同位素地质实验室的仪器基地是一项合理的投资，它利用了现有的基础设施、新建的环境研究大楼的一个更大的实验室、一个特殊的技术支持人员基地，以及一个有效且成功的成本回收管理计划。与科学界的接触将继续以学生和早期职业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推广活动，包括通过非正式的科学教育中心合作伙伴向初高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，教授地质年代学和地球历史科学。

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.