Accessory minerals as windows into crustal processes

我提出的研究计划的主要目标是更好地了解化学元素如何被纳入所谓的副矿物，如锆石（ZrSiO 4），在地球内。 这些矿物在自然界中的丰度相对较低，但它们通常含有大量的化学元素，如铀，钍和稀土元素（REE）。 该研究计划建立在当前的国际研究合作基础上;新研究领域的一些最新进展;纽芬兰纪念大学地球科学教师的研究兴趣;以及该机构优秀的分析地球化学设施。 为了完成一些拟议的研究项目，我将建立一个实验性高温/高压地球化学设施，以执行本提案中概述的实验;以及一个拉曼光谱和阴极发光成像实验室，以表征作为本研究计划一部分合成的材料。 了解化学元素如何结合在副矿物以前已经研究过，但机制和过程（即，电荷平衡、压力和温度的影响、流体或熔体组成、矿物结构和熔体结构等）管理这种划分的机制至今仍知之甚少。 在接下来的五年里，我计划开发一个综合研究项目，通过对精心挑选的天然样品进行分析，来完成精心策划的高温/高压实验。 这项研究计划的结果将使人们更好地了解这些副矿物在多大程度上可以用作这些矿物分离出来的岩石样品的地质历史的指标。

The main objectives of my proposed research program are to gain a better understanding of how chemical elements become incorporated in so-called accessory minerals, such as zircon (ZrSiO4), within the Earth.  These minerals occur in nature in relatively low abundances, however, they often contain significant quantities of chemical elements such as uranium, thorium, and the rare earth elements (REE).  This research program builds upon current international research collaborations; some recent developments in new research areas; research interests of faculty in Earth Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland; and the excellent analytical geochemistry facilities at that institution.  In order to complete some of the proposed research projects, I will establish an experimental high-temperature/high-pressure geochemistry facility to perform the experiments outlined in this proposal; and both a Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence imaging laboratory, in order to characterize the materials synthesized as part of this research program.  Understanding how chemical elements incorporate in accessory minerals has been previously studied, but the mechanisms and processes (i.e., charge balancing, effects or pressure and temperature, fluid or melt composition, structure of the mineral and structure of the melt, etc.) that govern such partitioning remain poorly understood to this day.  Over the next five years, I plan to develop a combined research program that dovetails carefully planned high-temperature/high-pressure experiments with analyses of carefully selected natural samples.  The results from this research program will provide a much better understanding of how extensively these accessory minerals may be used as indicators of the geologic history of the rock samples from which these minerals were separated.