Crystal chemical and geochemical studies on earth materials

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The proposed crystal chemical and geochemical research focuses on some fundamental problems in earth materials science, including: carbonate apatite biomineralization, rare earth elements in high-pressure silicates, electronic structure and surface chemistry of metal sulfides, bioaccumulation of gold, and maturation of organic matter from primitive life forms. The research leans heavily on physical chemistry, and uses techniques of laboratory experimentation and synthesis, X-ray structure analysis, chemical spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and element analysis. The applicant is an established synchrotron radiation researcher and will be an active participant at the Canadian Light Source at Saskatoon. Although the research is motivated by scientific curiosity, it will have both profound and practical consequences in understanding how the Earth works, regeneration of bone and care of teeth, synthesis of new materials with useful properties, colour of S-bearing silicates, and understanding orebodies of precious metals. The proposal includes research on carbonate-bearing apatites, rare earth element silicates, alkali silicates, and sodalite group phases, all synthesized at high pressure, transition-metal sulfides, and precipitation of gold by filamentous cyanobacteria.