MRI: Acquisition of an Electron Microprobe for Major and Trace Element Analysis

该奖项将为购买现代电子微探针提供资金。电子探针分析是一种用于亚微米体积固体材料的化学定量技术，是贯穿整个自然科学和工程科学的基本要求。新仪器将最大限度地提高空间和分析精度（到200-700纳米和1-10百万分之一的水平）。一个核心的区域设施被设想为能够实现尖端科学，新的发现机会，并补充整个落基山脉地区机构的教学任务。该设施将支持研究生和本科生的学位论文和论文，并将提供各种培训机会，包括分析技术的新课程和为期一天的仪器使用研讨会。鉴定天然材料（如岩石、矿物、化石、土壤）的化学成分和精细的空间异质性对于理解形成过程和材料特性至关重要，而工程合成材料则需要对技术设计和质量控制进行表征。微量元素和微量元素的组成可以确定各种自然地球的来源。这些数据可以帮助确定与战略矿床形成相关的过程，并了解影响深海海底和其他行星环境中潜在微生物生命形式的过程。微量元素的变化可以极大地改变金属、陶瓷、碳化物和其他合成材料的性能。新开发的技术允许电子探针分析薄膜的层厚度和成分。

This award will provide funds to acquire a modern Electron Microprobe. Electron microprobe analysis is a technique for the chemical quantification of sub-micron volumes of solid material, a basic requirement across the full range of natural and engineering sciences. The new instrument will maximize spatial and analytical precision (to 200-700 nanometers and 1-10 parts per million levels). A core regional facility is envisioned to enable cutting-edge science, new discovery opportunities, and to complement the teaching missions of institutions throughout the Rocky Mountain region. The facility will support dissertations and theses for graduate and undergraduate students, and a variety of training opportunities will be offered including a new course on analytical techniques and one-day workshops on using the instrument.Identification of the chemical compositions and fine spatial heterogeneities in natural materials (e.g. rocks, minerals, fossils, soil) is crucial for understanding formation processes and material properties, whereas engineered synthetic materials require characterization for technology design and quality control. Minor and trace element compositions can enable determination of the origin of a variety of natural Earth. These data can help determine the processes associated with the formation of strategic ore deposits, and to understand processes affecting potential microbial life forms on the deep seafloor and in other planetary environments. Minor and trace element variation can dramatically alter the properties of metals, ceramics, carbides and other synthetic materials. Newly developed techniques allow electron microprobe analysis of thin films for both layer thickness and composition.