Facility Support: The WiscSIMS National Ion Microprobe

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This award will renew funding of WiscSIMS as a National Facility for Stable Isotope Geochemistry. The lab has been funded by NSF as a National Facility since 2008. WiscSIMS has optimized an IMS-1280 large-radius, multi-collector ion microprobe for analysis of stable isotopes (including Li, C, N, O, Mg, Si, S, Ca, and Fe). WiscSIMS has developed unique capabilities for precise and accurate analysis of isotope ratios from small to ultra small spots. The ability to analyze small spots (1-10 micron) in situ from microscope mounts allows data to be put in context with imaging and other forms of analysis. Over 50% of instrument beam-time has been devoted to earth science and NSF-supported projects. Thus far, over 206 scientists have worked with WiscSIMS from 60 different universities and research institutes. A wide range of research is conducted at WiscSIMS. The three most common areas are Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology & Geochemistry; Cosmochemistry & Astrobiology; and Low Temperature Geochemistry & Paleoclimatology. The applications of these new in situ capabilities are potentially transformative in many areas of geochemistry. During the next three-year funding cycle, research to be conducted at WiscSIMS will help resolve long-standing paleoclimate questions, especially in proxy records of rapid climate change where conventional techniques cannot resolve short time periods. The broader impacts of this project include new applications of stable isotope geochemistry to problems of societal concern; public education; and SIMS/geochemistry training at undergraduate to post-doc level, including under-represented groups. Forty-five students, including 20 women, used WiscSIMS in thesis research during the past 3 years. WiscSIMS hosted the Hi-Res Paleoclimate Workshop in 2013 and proposes to host Hi-Res2015.