Acquisition of LA-ICP-QQQ-MS equipment for in situ trace element and isotopic research and training at the University of Maine

该项目将使缅因州大学获得一台质谱仪，供地球科学家研究地壳俯冲和古气候等地球系统过程。该仪器能够测量人类头发丝粗细的距离内元素的微小浓度，以了解岩石如何循环进入地球深处，然后以岩浆的形式返回地表。质谱仪通过获得岩石的年龄来增加时间的维度，时间尺度从几天到几十亿年不等。 质谱仪的多功能分析能力可用于研究过去的气候和海洋条件，方法是对海洋和洞穴中不同地方的岩石和化石进行相同类型的测量。该质谱仪将作为一个区域性设施，促进和刺激缅因州各大学的合作。（LA-ICP-QQQ-MS）将进一步研究地球系统过程，这些过程贯穿地圈、水圈、冰冻圈和生物圈，最先进的仪器将在微观尺度上测量微量元素和同位素数据，以检查地质档案，例如有孔虫外壳中的每日生长带，或跨越数十亿年地球历史的单锆石晶体内的区域。扩散和地球动力学模拟将地球化学数据与空间和时间尺度从微米到公里，从几天到几十亿年的野外观测相结合。 这些数据将增进对构造过程和陆地及海洋古气候记录的了解。研究项目包括对作为俯冲带岩浆起源的岩石进行岩石学和地球化学研究，以及重建过去的气候和海洋条件。质谱仪将提供广泛的培训和研究机会，并提高分析和技术素养，为来自缅因州大学和缅因州其他一些学院的各种STEM学科的学生群体。

This project will enable the University of Maine to acquire a mass spectrometer for geoscientists to investigate Earth system processes, such as crustal subduction and paleoclimate. The instrument is capable of measuring minute concentrations of elements over distances the thickness of a human hair to learn how rocks are cycled deep into the earth and then back to the surface as magma. The mass spectrometer adds the dimension of time by obtaining the ages of rocks at time scales ranging from days to billions of years. The versatile analytical capability of the mass spectrometer is used in the study of past climates and ocean conditions by making the same type of measurements in rocks and fossils from places as diverse as beneath oceans and in caves. The mass spectrometer will serve as a regional facility, promoting and stimulating collaborations at colleges throughout the state of Maine.The acquisition of a laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma triple-quad mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-QQQ-MS) by the University of Maine will further research into Earth system processes that cut across the geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere, The state-of-the-art instrument will measure trace element and isotopic data at the micro-scale to examine the geologic archive, such as daily growth bands in foraminifer shells, or zones within single zircon crystals spanning billions of years of Earth history. Diffusion and geodynamical modeling integrate the geochemical data with field observations whose spatial and temporal scales range from microns to kilometers and days to billions of years. These data will enhance understanding of tectonic processes and terrestrial and marine paleoclimate records. The research projects include petrology and geochemical studies of rocks that are the origin of subduction-zone magmas and the reconstruction of past climate and ocean conditions. The mass spectrometer will provide extensive training and research opportunities and enhance the analytical and technological literacy for a diverse group of students from a variety of STEM disciplines at the University of Maine and a number of other colleges in the state of Maine.