Solid state laser to investigate argon mobility in porous and non porous media

全球构造控制着在近地表环境和地壳深层由流体-岩石相互作用驱动的整个地球的质量传输周期。流体-岩石相互作用直接控制着热质传递、变质反应和地壳中矿藏的形成。这些过程很难量化，因为这些信息记录在微米级的矿物域，需要专门的分析设备和对适用技术的透彻了解。钾质矿物的Ar测年可能是破译此类过程在低于500℃的温度下运行的时间和速率的最有力工具之一(热年代学)。钾质矿物普遍存在于地壳岩石中，常与地壳规模的剪切带、流体-岩石相互作用区和矿床共生。然而，40Ar在这类矿物中扩散的系统学在很大程度上仍然是个谜，这限制了Ar测年的应用，并阻碍了对结果的解释。因此，将目前的准分子百里光管激光器升级为准分子ATLEX-LR固体激光器所申请的资金将用于通过几个项目探索岩石体积中的同位素传输，这对于确定流体-岩石相互作用、热和质量传输、变质过程和地壳矿化的时间至关重要。这项研究的结果预计将为加拿大带来地区性和广泛性的好处，例如通过改善对石雕等传统商品的获取来发展努纳武特的经济独立性，并确保加拿大的矿产勘探和开采能力能够在竞争激烈的全球市场中脱颖而出。此外，作为加拿大高等教育机构中唯一能够进行原位Ar测年的设施，新设备将有助于培训下一代热年代学家。

Global tectonics control the cycles of mass transport throughout the Earth driven by fluid-rock interactions in both near-surface environments and deep crust. Fluid-rock interactions directly control the rates of heat and mass transfer, metamorphic reactions, and the formation of mineral deposits in the Earth's crust. Quantification of these processes is difficult because the information is recorded in micron-scale mineral domains that requires specialized analytical equipment and thorough understanding of applicable techniques. Argon dating of potassic minerals is potentially one of the most powerful tools to decipher the timing and rates of such processes operating at temperatures below 500°C (thermochronology). Potassic minerals are ubiquitous in crustal rocks and often associated with crustal-scale shear zones, regions of fluid-rock interaction, and ore deposits. However, the systematics of 40Ar diffusion in such minerals remain largely enigmatic, which limit the application of argon dating and inhibit interpretation of the results. Thus, the requested funds to upgrade the present Excimer thyratron-based laser to an Excimer ATLEX-LR solid state-based laser will be used to explore, through several projects, isotope transport in the rock volume, which is critical for determining the timing of fluid-rock interactions, heat and mass transfer, metamorphic processes, and mineralization in the crust. Results of this research are anticipated to yield both regional and widespread benefits to Canada, such as developing the economic independence of Nunavut through improved access to traditional commodities like carving stone and ensuring Canada's mineral exploration and extraction capabilities are able to excel in a competitive global marketplace. In addition, as the only facility in a tertiary institution in Canada able to perform in-situ argon dating, the new equipment will help train the next generation of thermochronologists.