Acquisition of a laser ablation system for the Department of Geology, UIUC

该奖项的资金将用于获得准分子激光消融系统，用于广泛的尖端地球科学和人类学研究。激光系统将与现有的多接收器ICP-MS接口，并安装在一个由NSF资助的实验室中。由此产生的系统将包括一个最先进的实验室，用于测量各种固体样品（矿物，岩石，玻璃和牙齿）中微米尺度的同位素比率。 该激光系统的加入将为来自几个研究小组的研究生提供现代仪器方面的基本培训，并为其他研究生提供关键方法方面的宝贵经验。能够使用这种仪器将大大提高本科生的研究。等离子体质谱仪实验室已成为一个区域性资源，有许多来自中西部地区的外部用户。跨学科研究人员使用该设备将同时推进综合地球科学研究前沿的几个领域，使微尺度分辨率的同位素组成的高精度测量成为可能。这将应用于主要的研究项目，包括：（1）评估是否温度梯度驱动的分化过程导致了地球的发展？南半球陆壳;（2）确定锆石中U、Th的空间分布，提高锆石热年代学中U-Th/He的准确性;（3）通过测量牙齿和文物中的Sr同位素，追踪人类和考古文物的迁移;（4）测定固体物质如碳酸盐中的Sr同位素，追踪与天然沃茨的反应;（5）测定碳酸盐矿物的Sr同位素比值，揭示温泉和珊瑚礁中生物复合体微生物-水-矿物的相互作用。

Funds from this award will be used to acquire an excimer laser ablation system for a broad range of cutting edge geoscience and anthropological research. The laser system will interface with an existing multiple collector ICP-MS and be housed in an established NSF-funded laboratory. The resulting system will comprise a state-of-the-art laboratory for measuring isotopic ratios at micron scales in a variety of solid samples (minerals, rocks, glasses, and teeth). The addition of this laser system to the facility will provide essential training on modern instrumentation for graduate students from several research groups and valuable experience with key methods for other graduate students. Undergraduate research will be greatly enhanced by being able to use this instrument. The plasma mass spectrometer laboratory has become a regional resource with a number of outside users from the Midwest region.Use of this device by interdisciplinary researchers will simultaneously advance several fields at the fore-front of integrated geoscience research by enabling high precision measurements of isotopic compositions at microscale resolution. This will be applied to major research projects that include: (1) assessing whether a temperature gradient driven differentiation process has led to the development of Earth?s silicic continental crust; (2) determining the spatial distribution of U and Th in zircon to improve the ability to perform accurate U-Th/He in zircon thermochronology; (3) tracing the migration of hominids and archaeological artifacts through measurements of Sr isotopes in teeth and artifacts; (4) determining Sr isotopes in solid materials such as carbonates to trace reactions with natural waters; and (5) determiningSr isotope ratios in carbonate minerals in order to reveal biocomplex microbe-water-mineral interactions in hot springs and coral reefs.