Aquisition and Development of a Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer Facility at Boston University

这份来自主要研究和仪器项目（MRI）的合同将支持波士顿大学地球科学系新型热电离质谱（TIMS）设备的开发。除了TIMS外，该设施还将包括一个MicroMill采样设备，用于收集10-100微米尺度的空间分解材料，用于后续的化学制备和TIMS分析。新的TIMS/MicroMill设备使该部门和外部用户能够以高空间分辨率和高精度测量各种地质样品的同位素比率（例如Sr， Nd, Ca, Pb）。最新一代的TIMS能够达到以前无法达到的分析精度，包括在样本量有限的情况下。在火成岩和变质岩石学、风化和地表过程、海洋学和古气候学等四个pi的研究优势领域的现代地球科学研究，往往需要以精细的地球化学和地质年代学空间和时间分辨率重建过去的地质事件或条件，只有通过TIMS突破精度和样本量的极限才能实现。新的BU TIMS/MicroMill设施将致力于突破这些限制。这个开放的区域TIMS设施将满足该提案的四位PI，系里和大学的其他PI以及该地区其他地球科学家的研究需求。我们的外部用户管理计划为长期学生用户提供培训，鼓励与BU PI的合作研究，特别是在需要专业分析的情况下，并包括适当的充电率，将确保实验室设施的完整性，同时始终为BU和外部用户提供最优质的同位素数据。该设施将使波士顿大学和该地区广泛的研究生和本科生研究受益。

EAR-0521266BaxterThis award from the Major Research and Instrumentation Program (MRI) will support the development of a new Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) Facility in the Department of Earth Sciences at Boston University. In addition to the TIMS, this facility will include a MicroMill sampling device for collecting spatially-resolved material at the 10-100 micron scale for subsequent chemical preparation and TIMS analysis. The new TIMS/MicroMill Facility gives the Department - and external users - the capability to measure isotope ratios (e.g. Sr, Nd, Ca, Pb) on a wide variety of geological samples at high spatial resolution and high precision. The most recent generation of TIMS is capable of analytical precision not previously obtainable, including when sample size is limited. Modern geoscience research in igneous & metamorphic petrology, weathering & surface processes, and oceanography & paleoclimate - all research strengths of the four PIs - often requires the reconstruction of past geologic events or conditions with fine geochemical and geochronological spatial and temporal resolution only possible by pushing the limits of precision and sample size with the TIMS. The new BU TIMS/MicroMill Facility will be dedicated to pushing those limits. This open regional TIMS Facility will serve the research needs of the four PI's on this proposal, others in the Department and University, and other geoscientists in the region. Our external user management plan providing training for long-term student users, encouraging collaborative research with BU PI's particularly where specialized analysis is needed, and including an appropriate recharge rate, will ensure the integrity of the lab facilities while always providing the best quality isotopic data to BU and external users. The Facility will benefit a wide spectrum of graduate and undergraduate research at BU and in the region.