Solid state laser to investigate argon mobility in porous and non porous media

全球构造控制着由近地表环境和地壳深部流体-岩石相互作用驱动的整个地球的物质输送循环。流体-岩石的相互作用直接控制着热量和质量传递的速率、变质反应以及地壳中矿藏的形成。这些过程的量化是困难的，因为这些信息记录在微米尺度的矿物领域，需要专门的分析设备和对适用技术的透彻理解。钾质矿物的氩定年法可能是破译温度低于500°C的这类过程的时间和速率（热年代学）的最有力工具之一。钾矿物普遍存在于地壳岩石中，通常与地壳尺度剪切带、流体-岩石相互作用区和矿床有关。然而，40Ar在这些矿物中的扩散系统仍然很大程度上是谜，这限制了氩定年的应用，并抑制了对结果的解释。因此，将现有的基于准分子晶流管的激光器升级为基于准分子ATLEX-LR固体态激光器的申请资金将用于通过几个项目探索岩石体积中的同位素传输，这对于确定流体-岩石相互作用，传热和传质，变质过程和地壳中的矿化时间至关重要。预计这项研究的结果将为加拿大带来区域和广泛的利益，例如通过改善获得雕刻石等传统商品的途径，发展努纳武特的经济独立性，并确保加拿大的矿产勘探和开采能力能够在竞争激烈的全球市场中脱颖而出。此外，作为加拿大高等教育机构中唯一能够进行现场氩气测年的设备，新设备将有助于培训下一代的温度年代学家。

Global tectonics control the cycles of mass transport throughout the Earth driven by fluid-rock interactions in both near-surface environments and deep crust. Fluid-rock interactions directly control the rates of heat and mass transfer, metamorphic reactions, and the formation of mineral deposits in the Earth's crust. Quantification of these processes is difficult because the information is recorded in micron-scale mineral domains that requires specialized analytical equipment and thorough understanding of applicable techniques. Argon dating of potassic minerals is potentially one of the most powerful tools to decipher the timing and rates of such processes operating at temperatures below 500°C (thermochronology). Potassic minerals are ubiquitous in crustal rocks and often associated with crustal-scale shear zones, regions of fluid-rock interaction, and ore deposits. However, the systematics of 40Ar diffusion in such minerals remain largely enigmatic, which limit the application of argon dating and inhibit interpretation of the results. Thus, the requested funds to upgrade the present Excimer thyratron-based laser to an Excimer ATLEX-LR solid state-based laser will be used to explore, through several projects, isotope transport in the rock volume, which is critical for determining the timing of fluid-rock interactions, heat and mass transfer, metamorphic processes, and mineralization in the crust. Results of this research are anticipated to yield both regional and widespread benefits to Canada, such as developing the economic independence of Nunavut through improved access to traditional commodities like carving stone and ensuring Canada's mineral exploration and extraction capabilities are able to excel in a competitive global marketplace. In addition, as the only facility in a tertiary institution in Canada able to perform in-situ argon dating, the new equipment will help train the next generation of thermochronologists.