Acquisition of a scanning electron microscope optimized for elemental analysis for geologic research and teaching at Northern Arizona University

0421452样本在这笔重大研究仪器(MRI)赠款的支持下，亚利桑那州北部的地质部将安装一台针对岩石和矿物的元素成像和化学分析进行优化的扫描电子显微镜(SEM)。这次的扫描电子显微镜将大大加强该部门现有的地质研究能力。地质系的教职员工将管理该设施，一名由该系支持的技术人员将为研究人员和学生提供维护和培训。该系有一个成功的项目，有16名教职员工。十名教职员工和他们的学生使用扫描电子显微镜作为他们研究计划的一部分。扫描电子显微镜将是一个重要工具，可使要求更高的分析研究(质谱仪同位素分析、电子微探针分析)变得高效和彻底，并有助于开发与国家农业大学现有仪器不符的新研究途径。这些研究项目包括岩浆室过程、活动边缘断裂带中的流体-岩石相互作用、造山带的压力-温度-时间演化、火山过程和喷发组构、北美科迪勒拉地层的构造和沉积来源、大陆边缘冷泉系统的化学和动物群演化，以及微脊椎动物的生物地层学和演化。除了使地质学教职员工和他们的学生受益于强大的研究项目外，扫描电子显微镜将成为所有对地质材料定量分析感兴趣的研究生和本科生的宝贵、方便的培训工具。该仪器将用于至少4个本科生班和12个研究生班的教育和研究培训，影响到一个大型地质学项目的数十名学生。扫描电子显微镜将为瑙州大学地质专业的毕业生提供分析技能，这些技能将有助于确保他们在攻读更高学位时取得成功。该设施将为教育部提供重要的拓展能力，使更多来自NAU服务的亚利桑那州农村、美洲原住民和西班牙裔人口的学生进入地球科学事业。通过这些方式，SEM将服务于一所大学，其使命是成为一所集专业和研究生课程于一体的一流本科生住宿机构。该仪器将被安置在地质系，那里的邻近和收费结构将有利于创新的教学和研究相关用途。

0421452SampleWith support from this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant, the Department of Geology at Northern Arizona will install a scanning electron microscope (SEM) optimized for elemental imaging and chemical analysis of rocks and minerals. This SEM will significantly enhance the existing geologic research capabilities in the Department. Faculty members in the Department of Geology will manage the facility, and a technician supported by the Department will provide maintenance and training for researchers and students. The Department has a successful program with 16 faculty members. Ten faculty members and their students use an SEM as part of their research program. The SEM will be an important tool for making more demanding analytical research (isotopic analysis by mass spectrometry, electron microprobe analysis) efficient and thorough, and in developing new avenues of research not practical with existing instrumentation at NAU. These research programs include investigations of magma chamber processes, fluid-rock interactions in fault zones at active margins, pressure-temperature-time evolution of orogenic belts, volcanic processes and eruptive fabrics, tectonics and sedimentary provenance of formations in the North American Cordillera, chemical and faunal evolution of cold seep systems at continental margins, and biostratigraphy and evolution of micro-vertebrates.Besides benefiting the strong research programs of Geology faculty members and their students, the SEM will be a valuable, user-friendly training tool for all graduate and undergraduate students interested in quantitative analysis of geological materials. This instrument will be used in educational and research training in at least 4 undergraduate and 12 graduate classes, impacting dozens of students in a large geology program. The SEM will provide the students graduating from NAU Geology with analytical skills that will help to ensure their success as they pursue more advanced degrees. The facility will provide important outreach capabilities for the Department to bring more students from the large rural Arizona, Native American, and Hispanic populations served by NAU, into a career in geoscience. In these ways, the SEM will serve a university whose mission is to be a premier undergraduate residential institution integrated with professional and graduate programs. The instrument will be housed in the Department of Geology where the proximity and fee structure will be favorable for innovative teaching- and research-related usage.