Acquisition of a Stable Isotope Facility to Study Earth and Environmental Systems and Processes

9977209 Arehart这笔赠款通过重大研究仪器(MRI)计划提供部分支持，用于购买稳定的同位素设施，以研究雷诺内华达大学的地球和环境过程。该设施将由两个主要组成部分组成，这两个主要组成部分是根据预计对该设施进行的大量分析以及这一仪器支持的研究的多样性选择的，需要分析各种样品类型(液体、固体、气体、溶解成分)。首先，一个带有氢/氢收集器和多样品歧管的双进口稳定同位素比质谱仪，将用于分析离线制备的各种样品(如硅酸盐、碳酸盐、水)。二是单进口连续流稳定同位素质谱仪，配有氢/氢收集器、气相色谱-燃烧/裂解装置和元素分析仪。这将用于需要高样本吞吐量的研究(例如生态研究)，以及需要对复杂混合物中的个别有机化合物进行碳和氢同位素分析的研究。正在进行和计划开展的将受益于这一仪器的研究活动的具体实例包括：卡林型沉积容矿金矿的成因；活动地热系统和化石地热系统的地球化学和地质测温；与矿石有关的火成岩中硫的地球化学行为；地下水中有机污染物的稳定同位素地球化学行为；树木年轮记录的森林生态系统中氮的生物地球化学行为；低温下的磁铁矿-水分馏系数；黑海的早期成岩作用和古海洋学；太浩湖营养物质的生物地球化学循环；大盆地的白云岩作用；以及北美西部的大陆性古气候。

9977209ArehartThis grant, made through the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, provides partial support of the costs of acquiring a stable isotope facility to study Earth and environmental processes at the University of Nevada, Reno. The facility will be composed of two major components, which have been selected based on the large numbers of analyses anticipated for the facility, and the diverse nature of the studies to be supported by this instrumentation, requiring analysis of a broad range of sample types (liquids, solids, gases, dissolved components). First, a dual inlet stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer with H/D collectors and a multi-sample manifold, which will be used for the analysis of various samples prepared off-line (e.g. silicates, carbonates, waters). Second, a single inlet - continuous flow stable isotope mass spectrometer equipped with H/D collectors, a gas chromatography - combustion/pyrolysis unit, and an elemental analyzer. This will be used for studies requiring high sample throughput (e.g. ecological studies), and for studies requiring C and H isotope analysis of individual organic compounds within a complex mixture. Specific examples of ongoing and planned research activities that will benefit from this instrumentation include the study of: the origin of Carlin-type sedimentary hosted gold deposits; the geochemistry and geothermometry of active and fossil geothermal systems; the geochemical behavior of sulfur in ore-related igneous rocks; the stable isotope geochemistry of organic contaminants in ground water; the biogeochemical behavior of nitrogen in forested ecosystems as recorded in tree rings; the magnetite - water fractionation factor at low temperature; early diagenesis and paleoceanography in the Black Sea; biogeochemical cycling of nutrients at Lake Tahoe; dolomitization events in the Great Basin; and continental paleoclimate in western North America.***