MRI: Acquisition of a Superconducting Rock Magnetometer System for Earth Sciences Research

这一重大研究仪器(MRI)计划拨款支持购买超导岩石磁强计(SRM)，该仪器配备了直列式岩石磁线圈和自动样品处理系统(快速系统)以及所需的辅助设备。SRM将支持达特茅斯学院地球科学系的研究和研究培训。SRM将支持对地磁场、大陆古地理和深部环境磁学的发展和演化的研究。SRM还将支持博士后科学家、研究生和本科生的研究。调查人员计划通过实验室之旅和暑期研究实习来推广当地的K-12课程。该仪器还将支持区域合作以及新英格兰地区和可能之外的机构的教职员工和学生的使用。矿物、沉积物和岩石的磁学研究可以告诉我们地球表面过去的条件--从地磁场的发展和演变到大陆的地理位置，到地球(和人类)历史上关键事件的时间安排，再到跟踪气候和环境条件的变化--这反过来又可以为我们预测地球的未来提供信息。达特茅斯大学的研究将侧重于新的磁性应用和技术，如具有磁性矿物形成绝对时间的“深时间”环境磁学，以及开发一种快速、无损地识别低丰度磁性硫化铁化物的技术。SRM-RAPID系统和热退磁器将为热退磁和古强度的测量提供在校资源。这些方案需要大样本量和高分辨率的步骤，这可能会导致每项研究进行数万次测量。该仪器还将支持自动交变磁场退磁和岩石磁性实验，包括磁化率、无滞后剩余磁化和等温剩余磁化。SRM-RAPID系统的剩磁测量可以有效地表征样品的磁性矿物学特征，并分析地质样品中的古代记录场。SRM的高灵敏度和快速系统支架的低磁矩将使研究人员能够通过分析弱磁化沉积物、重磁化火山岩和非常小的样品(如生物标本、过滤颗粒、化学残留物和纯矿物相)来推动该领域的前沿。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant supports acquisition of a superconducting rock magnetometer (SRM) equipped with in-line rock magnetic coils and automated sample handling system (RAPID system) and required ancillary equipment. The SRM will support research and research training in the Department of Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College. The SRM will support research on the development and evolution of the geomagnetic field, continental paleogeography, and deep-time environmental magnetism. The SRM will also support postdoctoral scientist, graduate, and undergraduate student research. The investigator plans local K-12 outreach through laboratory tours and summer research internships. The instrument will also support regional collaborations and faculty and student use from institutions in the New England region and likely beyond.Magnetic study of minerals, sediments, and rocks can inform us about past conditions on Earth’s surface—from the development and evolution of the geomagnetic field to the geographic position of continents to the timing of key events in Earth (and human) history to tracking changes in climate and environmental conditions—which in turn can inform our projections of Earth’s future. Research at Dartmouth will focus on novel magnetic applications and techniques such as “deep-time” environmental magnetism with absolute timing of magnetic mineral formation and development of a quick, non-destructive technique for identifying magnetic iron sulfides present in low-abundance. The SRM-RAPID system and thermal demagnetizer will provide an on-campus resource for measurements of thermal demagnetization and paleointensity. These protocols require large sample numbers and high-resolution steps that can result in tens of thousands of measurements per study. The instrumentation will also support automated alternating field demagnetization and rock magnetic experiments involving magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic remanent magnetization, and isothermal remanent magnetization. Remanence magnetic measurements made by the SRM-RAPID system can be used for efficiently characterizing the magnetic mineralogy of samples, as well as analyzing ancient recorded fields in geologic samples. The high-sensitivity of the SRM and the low magnetic moment of the RAPID system holder will allow researchers to push the frontiers of the field through analysis of weakly magnetized sediments, heavily remagnetized volcanics, and very small samples such as biological specimens, filtered particulate, chemical residues, and pure mineral phases.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.