Replacement of energy-dispersion X-ray spectrometer and operating system on Phillips XL30 scanning electron microscope

我们正在申请资金，以更换飞利浦XL 30扫描电子显微镜上的故障能量色散X射线光谱仪和过时的工作站/操作系统。 我们的SEM是UBC地球与海洋科学电子微束/X射线衍射设备（EMXDF）的重要组成部分，该设备还配备了Cameca SX 50电子探针显微分析仪和Siemens D5000粉末X射线衍射仪。这三个实验室在功能上是一体化的，为矿物和材料的表征提供了全面的分析设施，不仅在UBC，而且在周边社区。SEM/EDS系统使用电子束从样品（例如，二次电子、背散射电子、特征X射线、阴极射线发光），以获取高放大率的材料图像，进行基于点和区域的化学分析，从而识别抛光切片或手工标本中的未知相，并绘制其分布图。 除了对矿物和材料进行定性和半定量EDS分析外，这些信号还可用于数字图像分析（例如颗粒的自动尺寸和形状、化学分类、相对面积分析）。 以下研究项目将大大受益于更新和提高我们的SEM的能力：煤层气研究，预测采矿活动对环境的影响，如酸性岩石排水，新型合金和陶瓷的表征，加拿大宝石材料，花岗伟晶岩，硼硅酸盐矿物的研究，岩石测年，硅酸盐风化和尾矿中二氧化碳封存的研究，绘制与火山碎屑岩的流动和破碎有关的纹理和颗粒形状，并描述热液矿床的特征。此次升级将使我们的研究团队能够继续进行高效和具有成本效益的矿物学分析，并提高我们为加拿大矿物和材料行业提供的服务质量。

We are requesting funding for the replacement of the ailing energy-dispersion X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and obsolete workstation/operating system on a Philips XL30 scanning electron microscope (SEM).  Our SEM is an essential component of  the Electron Microbeam/X-Ray Diffraction Facility (EMXDF) at Earth & Ocean Sciences, UBC, which also houses a Cameca SX50 electron-probe microanalyzer and a Siemens D5000 powder X-ray diffractometer. The three laboratories are integrated in their function to provide a comprehensive analytical facility for the characterization of minerals and materials not only at UBC but also the surrounding community. A SEM/EDS system uses a beam of electrons to generate various signals from a specimen (e.g., secondary electrons, backscattered electrons, characteristic X-rays, cathodoluminescence) to acquire images of materials at high magnifications, to do spot and area-based chemical analyses allowing identification of unknown phases in polished sections or in hand specimens, and to map their distribution.  In addition to qualitative and semi-quantitative EDS analysis of minerals and materials, these signals can also be used do digital image analysis (e.g. automatic size and shape of particles, chemical classification, relative area analysis).  The following research projects will benefit substantially from renewing and improving the capablities of our SEM: coal-bed methane studies, prediction of environmental impacts of mining activities such as acid-rock drainage, the characterization of novel alloys and ceramics, studies of Canadian gem materials, granitic pegmatites, borosilicate minerals, dating of rocks, the study of silicate weathering and CO2 sequestration in mine tailings, mapping textures and grain shapes that relate to flow and fragmentation of pyroclastic rocks, and characterizing hydrothermal mineral deposits. This upgrade will allow our research groups to continue efficient and cost effective mineralogical analyses and improve the quality of our services to the minerals and materials industries in Canada.