Operating system for the Cameca 7f SIMS

同位素可以提供关于在自然系统中分布和富集金属的流体的信息;这种信息通常不可能通过其他技术获得。使用传统的轻稳定同位素（H、C、O、N和S）和Pb的分馏作为流体-固体相互作用、地质温度计、质量传输和污染物的示踪剂的实用性已经很好地建立，并且放射性同位素（例如，U-Pb）是流体事件的有用计时器。然而，使用非传统的轻同位素如B和Li，以及过渡-（例如，V、Fe、Cu、Zn）和其他重金属同位素（例如，（1）处于婴儿期。许多富集金属的流体-岩石相互作用最终都是由微观尺度上发生的过程控制的。随着空间分辨分析技术（二次离子质谱法（西姆斯），激光烧蚀ICP-MS）的出现，显着的微观尺度的同位素细节已被揭示。Fayek沿着与他的合作者提出将西姆斯的原位微观分析能力应用于：（1）研究盆地中形成矿床的流体-岩石相互作用，（2）开发地壳的精确地球动力学模型，以及（3）使用同位素示踪实验研究工程合金的腐蚀。这三个研究领域的共同主题是使用同位素追踪流体-物质相互作用和使用西姆斯技术。

Isotopes can provide information on the fluids that distribute and concentrate metals in natural systems; such information is often impossible to obtain by other techniques. The utility of using the fractionation of traditional light stable isotopes (H, C, O, N, and S) and Pb as tracers of fluid-solid interactions, geothermometers, mass transport and contaminants is well established, and radiogenic isotopes (e.g., U-Pb) are useful chronometers of fluid events. However, the use of non-traditional light isotopes such as B and Li, and transition- (e.g., V, Fe, Cu, Zn) and other heavy-metal isotopes (e.g., U), is in its infancy. Many of the fluid-rock interactions that concentrate metals are ultimately governed by processes occurring at the micro-scale. With the advent of spatially resolved analytical techniques (secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), laser ablation ICP-MS), remarkable micro-scale isotopic detail has been revealed. Fayek along with his collaborators propose to apply the in situ micro-analytical capabilities of the SIMS to: (1) study fluid-rock interactions that form ore deposits in basins, (2) develop accurate geodynamic models for the Earth’s crust, and (3) study the corrosion of engineered alloys using isotope tracer experiments. The common theme among these three research areas is the use of isotopes to trace fluid-material interactions and the use of the SIMS technique.