Acquisition of an X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer

该合同将为华盛顿州立大学地球分析实验室购买当前一代X射线荧光(XRF)光谱仪提供资金，以便继续为地球科学界提供可靠的化学分析服务。休斯敦州立大学地球分析实验室通过其提供的分析服务，尤其是为研究火山过程的研究界提供的分析服务，被认为是北美学术地球科学研究和研究培训的重要组成部分。该领域的基础研究为自然灾害的应用奠定了基础。威斯康星州立大学的XRF设施被用于广泛的地质、环境科学和考古研究。化学成分是描述火成岩的必要部分，提供了有关风化和沉积过程的基本信息，并在地质考古学中的应用日益广泛。使用该仪器数据的项目包括对来自火山口和大型火成岩省份的超级喷发的研究。此外，对沉积物、古土壤和考古材料等地球表面材料的化学分析为全球变化科学，包括过去人类对环境的影响提供了知识库。因此，确保训练有素的地球化学家和熟练技术人员稳定地进入国家劳动力队伍，对社会未来的健康至关重要。

This award will provide funds to purchase a current-generation X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer in the GeoAnalytical laboratory at Washington State University, in order to continue to provide a reliable chemical analysis service to the geoscience community. The WSU GeoAnalytical Laboratory is considered an important component of academic geoscience research and research training in North America through the analytical services it provides, most notably for the research community studying volcanic processes. Basic research in this field underpins applications to natural hazards. The XRF facility at WSU is employed in a broad range of geological, environmental science, and archaeological research. Chemical composition is a necessary part of the description of igneous rocks, gives fundamental information about weathering and sedimentary processes, and is growing in application to geoarchaeology. Projects that use data from the instrument include studies of super-eruptions from calderas and large igneous provinces. Additionally, chemical analysis of Earth surface materials such as sediments, paleosols and archaeological materials feeds the knowledge base for global change science, including past human impacts on the environment. Ensuring a steady supply of trained geochemists and skilled technicians into the national workforce is therefore essential to the future health of society.