MRI: Acquisition of an XRF Core Scanner for the Lamont-Doherty Core Repository

该项目将支持购置一台X射线荧光岩心扫描仪，该扫描仪能够对沉积物岩心和其他地质材料，如板状岩心或珊瑚进行自动化、高通量、高分辨率的地球化学分析。 来自陆地和海洋的沉积物和岩芯的地球化学分析是研究过去和现在气候变化、地球构造历史以及人类对环境干扰的重要组成部分。 特别是在气候研究中，需要高分辨率的地球化学和矿物学代理数据来模拟和理解从几十年到几百万年的时间尺度上的气候变化机制。这一建议的三个最重要的更广泛的影响是：（a）建立一个区域分析设施，为纽约三小时半径范围内的科学家和学生提供服务;（B）为哥伦比亚大学许多尚未获得终身教职的教员和科学家提供更强和所需的分析能力;以及c）获得一种工具，该工具将为研究生提供对其职业生活和所选领域至关重要的培训。 此外，XRF设施将提高许多学生和来参观和/或在储存库工作的非专业人员的教育和研究经验。 在过去的四年里，Lamont-Doherty核心知识库的访问者数量急剧增加，因为知识库已经发展成为同事，当地大学，高中，当地实习生计划，ELHI教师及其当地专业组织，研讨会/会议与会者和记者的教育和外展中心。 知识库的目标是创造一个环境，使其适合教育各级学生和成人，同时激发好奇心和好奇心。 特别努力确保参观者了解（以适合年龄的方式）每天在知识库中进行的科学与所有公民都应该了解的更大的进化，自然资源可用性和气候变化问题之间的联系。 XRF数据被用于研究陆地干旱和降水历史、冰川历史、地下水健康问题、CO2封存以及渔业和资源污染问题等各种主题。拉蒙的许多科学项目都将从购买XRF岩心扫描仪中受益，这些项目由地球科学理事会资助。 此外，东北走廊内的许多科学家也将受益于拉蒙分析设施的扩建。 许多在陆地或海洋上进行NSF资助的取芯考察的科学家认识到在Lamont-Doherty Core Repository采样和存档岩心的好处，特别是如果他们的岩心需要冷藏。 Lamont-Doherty地球观测站的XRF核心扫描仪将实现增强为内部和外部调查人员提供的分析服务的目标，并使该地区的学生更容易积极参与他们与顾问一起进行的研究。

This project will support the acquisition of an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanner capable of automated, high-throughput, high-resolution geochemical analysis of sediment cores and other geological materials such as slabbed rock cores or coral. The geochemical analysis of sediment and rock cores, from land and sea, is a critical component of research studying past and present climate change, Earth's tectonic history, and anthropogenic disturbance of our environment. In climate research especially, high-resolution geochemical and mineralogical proxy-data is needed to model and understanding mechanisms of climate change on time scales ranging from decades to millions of years. The three most important broader impacts of this proposal are a) the establishment of a regional analytical facility that will serve scientists and students within a three hour radius of New York; b) the provision of enhanced and needed analytical capability to numerous pre-tenure faculty and scientists at Columbia University; and c) the acquisition of an instrument that will provide graduate student training central to their professional life and chosen fields. In addition, the XRF facility will enhance the educational and research experience of the many students and laypeople that come to visit and/or work in the Repository. The number of visitors to the Lamont-Doherty Core Repository has increased dramatically over the last four years as the Repository has evolved into an educational and outreach center for colleagues, local colleges, high schools, local intern programs, ELHI teachers and their local professional organizations, workshop/conference attendees, and journalists, among others. The goal of the Repository has been to create an environment that lends itself to educating students and adults at all educational levels while simultaneously inspiring curiosity and wonder. Particular effort has been put into to ensuring that visitors understand (in an age-appropriate way) the link between the science carried out every day in the Repository and the larger, issues of evolution, natural resource availability, and climate change that all citizens should understand. XRF data are used to study topics as diverse as terrestrial drought and precipitation history, glacier history, groundwater health issues, CO2 sequestration, and fisheries and resource pollution issues. Numerous scientific projects based at Lamont, funded by programs spanning the breadth of the Geosciences Directorate, will benefit from the acquisition of the XRF core scanner. In addition, numerous scientists within the northeast corridor will also benefit from the expansion of Lamont's analytical facilities. Many scientists who run NSF-funded coring expeditions, on land or sea, recognize the benefits of sampling and archiving their cores at the Lamont-Doherty Core Repository, especially if their cores require cold storage. An XRF core scanner at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory will meet the objective of enhancing the analytical services offered to internal and external investigators, as well as making it much easier for students in the region to be active participants in the research they are undertaking with their advisors.