Crystal chemical and geochemical studies on earth materials

晶体化学和地球化学研究的重点是地球材料科学的一些基本问题，包括：碳酸盐磷灰石生物矿化、高压硅酸盐中的稀土元素、金属硫化物的电子结构和表面化学、金的生物富集、原始生命形式有机质的成熟等。该研究主要依赖于物理化学，并使用实验室实验和合成、x射线结构分析、化学光谱学、电子显微镜和元素分析技术。申请人是一名成熟的同步辐射研究人员，并将积极参与萨斯卡通加拿大光源项目。尽管这项研究是出于对科学的好奇心，但它将在理解地球是如何工作的、骨骼的再生和牙齿的护理、具有有用特性的新材料的合成、含s硅酸盐的颜色以及了解贵金属矿体方面产生深远而实际的影响。该提案包括研究含碳酸盐的磷灰石、稀土元素硅酸盐、碱硅酸盐和钠石基相，所有这些都是在高压下合成的，过渡金属硫化物，以及丝状蓝藻对金的沉淀。

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.