Acquisition of a Scanning Electron Microscope for Earth Science Research and Training of the Next Generation of Geoscientists

1551342Moecher 在提交给 EAR 仪器和设施计划的提案中，PI 请求 149,947 美元，以支持肯塔基大学（英国）地球与环境科学系的教职员工和学生购买扫描电子显微镜 (SEM)，用于对地球材料进行颗粒级结构和化学表征。所请求的 SEM 将支持 NSF/EAR 资助的岩石构造学和其他领域的研究。 具体研究将包括对中地壳压变形的研究，需要通过锆石 U-Pb 地质年代学对变形深成岩进行测年，以及对与压变形内部和边界区域的变泥岩变形微观结构相关的独居石生长进行测年。 在 U-Pb 和独居石年代学技术之前，需要通过 SEM 对锆石和独居石进行 SEM 成像。 其他研究包括花岗岩和沉积岩的岩石成因研究，后者对碳氢化合物储层评估以及二氧化碳注入对储层岩石矿物学和孔隙度演化的影响的研究具有影响。所要求的扫描电镜将支持研究生和本科生的研究培训以及PI的当地高中外展工作，并使该仪器所在的肯塔基州地质调查局校园分部的科学家受益。 鉴于微分析技术方面的学生培训机会对于支持未来科学劳动力需求以及可能有利于未来地下二氧化碳封存工作的研究进展的重要性，这种支持与国家科学基金会促进科学进步和促进国家福利的使命是一致的。 ***

1551342MoecherIn this proposal submitted to the EAR Instrumentation and Facilities Program, the PIs requested $149,947 to support acquisition of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for grain-scale textural and chemical characterization of earth materials by faculty and students in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Kentucky (UK). The requested SEM would support NSF/EAR funded research in petrotectonics and other fields. Specific studies would include investigations of mid-crustal transpression that require dating of deformed plutonic rocks via zircon U-Pb geochronology and dating monazite growth tied to deformation microstructures in metapelites within and bounding zones of transpression. Prior to U-Pb and monazite geochronologic techniques SEM imaging of zircons and monazites via SEM is required. Additional research includes studies of the petrogenesis of granites and sedimentary rocks, the latter with implications for hydrocarbon reservoir evaluation and for studies of the effects of CO2 injection on reservoir rock mineralogy and porosity evolution.The requested SEM would support graduate and undergraduate student research training and local high school outreach efforts by the PI and benefit scientists at the on-campus branch of the Kentucky Geological Survey, where the instrument would be housed. This support is congruent with NSFs mission of promoting the progress of science and advancing the national welfare given the importance of student training opportunities in microanalysis technologies to support future scientific workforce needs and the advancement of research that may benefit future subsurface carbon dioxide sequestration efforts. ***