Microsampling Device for Geochemical Analysis of Earth and Planetary Materials

通过对岩石样本和陨石中发现的矿物质的仔细研究，我们可以了解到很多关于地球、其他行星和小行星在其历史上是如何形成和改变的。今天的大多数实验室做两件事之一：粉碎岩石并分离出不同的矿物;或者使用激光或离子束分析抛光岩石表面的矿物颗粒。第一种方法（称为矿物分离）是给我们最详细信息的最佳方法，但它不保留矿物颗粒如何生长在一起（岩石纹理）;第二种方法不太详细，但它保留了纹理，以便我们可以将获得的信息放入上下文。我们建议购买一种新型设备，称为微型磨机，这将使我们能够在岩石中钻取微小的矿物样品。因为样品是以粉末的形式钻出来的，所以可以用最好的方法（通常用于矿物分离的方法）进行分析;因为样品是直接从小于人头发宽度的地方取出的，而不是粉碎岩石，所以岩石的质地被保留下来。通过这种方式，该设备弥合了当今实验室中使用的两种方法之间的差距，并使新的研究领域成为可能。这些设备将直接支持阿尔伯塔两所大学的5名研究人员的研究项目，从钻石、矿床和陨石的形成，到将碳放回地壳的方法。这些设备也将提供给阿尔伯塔和全国其他研究领域的其他研究人员。

We can learn a lot about how the Earth, other planets and asteroids were formed and modified throughout their history by the careful study of minerals found in rock samples and meteorites. Most labs today do one of two things: crush up the rock and separate out the different minerals; or analyze the mineral grains in a polished rock surface using a laser or ion beam. The first method (called mineral separation) is the best for giving us the most detailed information, but it does not preserve how the mineral grains have grown together (the rock texture); the second method is less detailed, but it preserves the texture so that the information we get can be put into context. We propose to purchase a new type of equipment, called a micromill, that will allow us to drill out tiny samples of minerals within rocks. Because the samples are drilled out as powder, they can be analyzed using the best methods (the ones usually used with mineral separation); because the samples are removed directly from spots less than the width of a human hair instead of crushing up the rock, the rock texture is preserved. In this way the equipment bridges the gap between the two methods used in labs today, and makes new areas of research possible. The equipment will directly support the research programs of 5 researchers at two Alberta Universities, in everything from how diamonds, ore deposits and meteorites form, to ways of putting carbon back into the Earth's crust. The equipment will also be available to other researchers in other areas of study in Alberta and nationally.