University of Manitoba Crystallography Laboratory

马尼托巴大学地质科学系的结晶学实验室拥有北美其他地球科学系所没有的许多硬件、软件和专业知识。有四种主要的仪器，都用于在原子尺度上表征晶体材料，特别是矿物。晶体暴露在X射线下，由此产生的散射辐射给出了晶体中原子类型和排列的详细信息。特别注重(1)满足每个项目对许多(超过25个)晶体的数据需求，以及(2)处理困难的(非常小、无序、高度吸收、潮解或脱水)晶体。该实验室是北美此类工作的中心，吸引了来自世界各地的学生。许多欧洲和亚洲的科学家长期访问该实验室，以学习了解晶体，特别是矿物的最新科学技术。在这个设施中完成了广泛的工作。一些科学家正在努力从根本上理解晶体，寻求原子聚集形成固体材料的一般原理。由此产生的信息将提供对矿物化学细节的更深入的了解，并使人们对此类矿物的形成机制有很大的洞察力。在某些情况下，可以计算成矿的温度和压力，为我们提供地球过程的定量图景。其他科学家正在研究环境问题，如区域气候变化和酸性矿山排水。沉积在加拿大大草原湖泊中的沉积物包含有关过去气候变化和大陆湖泊行为的信息。矿山废物与地表水发生反应，产生新的矿物质和极酸性的水，对当地环境产生不利影响。从该设施的广泛工作中获得的这些环境的矿物学和地球化学的详细知识，可以更好地设计补救行动。

The Crystallography Laboratory in the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba, contains much hardware, software and expertise not available at other Earth Science departments in North America. There are four principal instruments, all used to characterize crystalline materials, particularly minerals, at the atomic scale. Crystals are exposed to X-rays, and the resulting scattered radiation gives detailed information of the types and arrangements of atoms in the crystal. There is particular focus on (1) satisfying the demand for data on many (more than 25) crystals per project, and (2) dealing with difficult (very small, disordered, highly absorbing, deliquescent or dehydrating) crystals. The laboratory is the centre for such work in North America, and attracts students from all over the world. Many European and Asian scientists visit the lab for extended periods to learn the latest scientific techniques for understanding crystals, particularly minerals. A broad spectrum of work is done at this facility. Some scientists are working toward a fundamental understanding of crystals, seeking the general principles by which atoms assemble to form solid materials. The resulting information will provide a much deeper understanding of the chemical details of minerals, and gives great insight into the mechanisms by which such minerals form. In some cases, the temperature and pressure of mineral formation can be calculated, providing us with a quantitative picture of Earth processes. Other scientists are working on environmental issues such as regional climate change and acid mine drainage. Sediments deposited in lakes of the Canadian prairies contain information concerning the past climactic variation and the behaviour of continental lakes. Mine wastes react with surface waters to produce new minerals and very acid water which impacts negatively on the local environment. Detailed knowledge of the mineralogy and geochemistry of these environments, derived from extensive work at this facility, allows better design of remedial action.