Acquisition of a 4K high accuracy digital microscope

该奖项全部或部分由2021年美国救援计划法案（公法117-2）资助，用于购买超高精度数字显微镜（基恩士VHX 7000），以支持南佛罗里达大学（USF）-地球科学学院（SGS）进行的矿物学，岩石学和火山学研究和教学。微尺度特征的鲁棒定量测量（例如，岩石的粒度和形状、结构）对于更好地了解控制火山爆发和更广泛的地质过程的物理因素至关重要。这种数字显微镜允许，用一个单一的仪器，捕捉图像通常分别获得与常规相机，双目和偏光显微镜，和自动化颗粒分析仪，允许调查材料的大小范围从几微米（矿物颗粒）到几分米（块，手标本）以及岩相薄片。此外，该仪器几乎免维护，包括一个强大的和创新的图像处理软件，执行比传统系统更快，更强大的定量分析。在USF-SGS中，该仪器将主要用于火山学研究，但也用于地球化学，古气候学，古生物学，构造地质学和天体生物学。该仪器还将用于生成地质样本的2D和3D数字模型，这些模型将成为USF图书馆托管的可访问数字样本库的一部分，并通过当前的网络基础设施平台（Vhub，Earthcube）与国际地球科学界共享，长期目标是将该数据库用于在线教学，这一能力将使K-12和大学生和教育工作者受益。这个新的分析设施将支持整个USF学院的科学合作，以及与美国和国际研究人员的合作。该系统将在使用的头两年及以后推进各种研究和教育项目。该仪器将允许PI收集基础数据，以更好地限制控制火山喷发行为的条件，并扩展用户在全范围样本大小的分析能力，以推进火山学研究。该仪器将加强PI的研究项目，以调查浅管道系统中的结晶，混合和熔体分离;爆炸爆发期间的岩浆破碎和管道流动过程;以及各种地表火山灾害（沉降物，火山碎屑流，火山泥流）的生成，运输和沉积机制。该仪器获得的数据将用于约束（1）马提尼克岛一个独特的熔结凝灰岩存款的喷发源参数;（2）与小安的列斯群岛和厄瓜多尔的岩浆混合有关的斜长石结构，（3）美国西部各种火山管道系统中的结晶速率和熔体分离，以及（4）小安的列斯群岛最近爆发的火山碎屑沉积物，美洲和印度尼西亚。除了火山学之外，该系统还将加强USF-SGS内岩溶地质学、古生物学、沉积学、古气候学和地球科学教育的研究。该显微镜将免费提供给更广泛的USF社区的学生和教师，特别是人类学，生物学，海洋科学和土木工程，SGS合作项目的目标是各种材料的矿物学和地球化学表征。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) to acquire an ultra-high accuracy digital microscope (KEYENCE VHX 7000) to support research and teaching in mineralogy, petrology, and volcanology conducted at the University of South Florida (USF) - School of Geosciences (SGS). Robust quantitative measurements of microscale features (e.g., grain size and shape, textures of rocks) are crucial to better understand the physical factors that control volcanic eruptions and broader geological processes. This digital microscope allows, with a single instrument, to capture images usually acquired separately with regular cameras, binocular and polarizing microscopes, and automated particle analyzer, allowing to investigate material ranging in size from a few micron-meters (mineral grains) to several decimeters (blocks, hand specimen) as well as petrographic thin sections. Moreover, the instrument is virtually maintenance-free and includes a robust and innovative image processing software performing much faster and robust quantitative analyses than conventional systems. In the USF-SGS, the instrument will be used primarily for research in volcanology, but also in geochemistry, paleoclimatology, paleontology, structural geology, and astrobiology. The instrument will also be used to generate 2D and 3D digital models of geologic samples that will be part of an accessible digital sample library, hosted by the USF Library, and shared with the international geoscience community through current cyberinfrastructure platforms (Vhub, Earthcube) with the longer-term goal of using this database for online teaching, a capability that benefits K-12 and college students and educators. This new analytical facility will support scientific collaborations throughout USF colleges, as well as with U.S. and international investigators. The system will advance various research and educational projects within its first two years of use and beyond. The instrument will allow PIs to collect fundamental data to better constrain the conditions that control volcanoes’ eruptive behavior as well as expand users’ analytical capabilities across the full spectrum of sample sizes to advance research in volcanology. This instrument will enhance the PIs’ research projects to investigate crystallization, mixing, and melt segregation in shallow plumbing systems; magma fragmentation and conduit flow processes during explosive eruptions; and the generation, transport, and deposition mechanisms of various surficial volcanic hazards (fallout, pyroclastic currents, lahars). Data obtained with the instrument will be used to constrain (1) the eruptive source parameters of a unique ignimbrite deposit in Martinique island; (2) plagioclase textures related to magma mixing in the Lesser Antilles and Ecuador, (3) crystallization rates and melt segregation in various volcanic plumbing systems of the western US, and (4) pyroclastic deposits from recent explosive eruptions in the Lesser Antilles, the Americas and Indonesia. Beyond volcanology, the system will enhance research in karst geology, paleobiology, sedimentology, paleoclimatology, and geoscience education within the USF-SGS. The microscope will be freely available to students and faculty in the wider USF community, specifically Anthropology, Biology, Marine Science, and Civil Engineering with an SGS collaborative project aim that targets mineralogical and geochemical characterization of various materials.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.