Upgrade of Spinner Magnetometer for Continuing and New Paleomagnetic Research Objectives at Tufts University

该地球科学仪器和设施计划奖支持收购一台Agico JR-6双速旋转磁力计，用于测量塔夫茨大学定向地质样品的磁性。 该仪器将取代一台使用了32年、不再发挥作用的磁力计。 磁力计测量：极性，它在正常极性（如现在的地球磁场）和反向磁场（磁场方向与今天的磁场翻转180度）之间变化;磁偏角，这是磁场方向与真北不同的测量方法;磁倾角，这是在任何给定位置偏离地球磁场方向水平的倾角。岩石和沉积物的时变磁特征被用于对比和年龄测定。 通过此次收购，学生在古地磁方法和研究应用方面的培训将得到推进，研究人员计划通过有指导的实地考察和针对K-12教师和学生的教育材料的制作进行当地推广，以提高对地球磁场及其随时间变化的动态行为的认识。将立即受益于新磁强计的研究项目包括：新英格兰冰蚀纹沉积的年代学和空间分布，并由此推断该地区第四纪冰川活动的历史和机制，阿瓦隆地区新元古代岩石的构造和古地理历史，以及新英格兰地区古冰川活动的历史和机制。新英格兰的前威斯康星冰川史是基于冰下冰碛物和冰内冰碛物的年代学确定的。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Division of Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities Program award supports acquisition of an Agico JR-6 Dual Speed Spinner Magnetometer to measure magnetism in oriented geological samples at Tufts University. The instrument would replace a 32-year old and no longer functional magnetometer. The magnetometer measures: polarity, which varies between a normal polarity, like the present Earth’s field, and a reversed field in which magnetic directions are flipped 180 degrees from today’s field; magnetic declination, which is a measurement of how the field direction differs from true north; and magnetic inclination, which is the dip away from horizontal of Earth’s magnetic field direction at any given place. Time varying magnetic signature of rocks and sediments are used for correlation and age dating. Student training in paleomagnetic methods and research applications will be advanced with the acquisition and the investigator plans local outreach through guided field trips and production of educational materials targeted at K-12 teachers and students to advance awareness of the Earth’s magnetic field and its time varying dynamic behavior.Research projects that will immediately benefit from the new magnetometer include study of: the chronology and spatial distribution of glacial varve deposition in New England and by inference the history and mechanisms of Quaternary glacial activity in the region; the tectonic and paleogeographic history of Neoproterozoic rocks of the Avalon terrane; the pre-Wisconsinan glacial history of New England based on determination of the chronology of subglacial till and intra-till lake deposits.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.