Hidden geochemical treasure: apatite inclusions in zircon

该项目旨在对矿物锆石中微小磷灰石包裹体的同位素组成进行高精度测量。该项目将创建一个新的同位素数据集，将其与寄主锆石的年龄和同位素数据结合起来，以研究地壳的形成和演化。原始磷灰石包裹体是以前未开发的原始地球化学信息宝库，可通过显微分析和成像技术的最新进展获得。这些信息将被用于测试第一个大陆形成时间的模型，绘制大陆随时间增长的地图，并评估地球上最古老的岩石和矿物的来源以及地球早期的环境条件。

This project aims to undertake high precision measurements of the isotopic composition of tiny apatite inclusions in the mineral zircon. This project will create a new isotopic data set to combine with age and isotope data for the host zircons in order to study the formation and evolution of the Earth's crust. Primary apatite inclusions represent a previously untapped treasury of pristine geochemical information made accessible by the latest advances in micro-analytical and imaging technology. This information will be used to test models for the timing of formation of the first continents, to map continental growth over time, and to evaluate the origins of the Earth's oldest rocks and minerals and the environmental conditions on the early Earth.