MRI: Acquisition of a Multicollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer and Laser System for Investigating the Evolution of the Earth's Climate, Oceans, and Tectonics

MRI：购买多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪和激光系统，用于研究地球气候、海洋和构造的演变

• 批准号: 1626244
• 负责人: Erin Roark
• 金额: $ 100.02万
• 依托单位: Texas A&M University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-09-15 至 2021-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1626244&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; Acquisition; Multicollector; Inductively; Coupled

This award provides funding for the acquisition of a new state of the art Laser Ablation Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer system (LA-MC-ICPMS) to be incorporated into the expanding Ken Williams Radiogenic Isotope Geosciences Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The instrumentation will be used by an interdisciplinary group of researchers across Texas A&M University, the International Ocean Discovery Program, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Texas A&M University Galveston to address transformative and interdisciplinary questions in climate, biogeochemistry, environmental change, and tectonics. Specific research topics include: 1) novel transition metal isotope measurements such as iron, zinc, and cadmium as a tracer of oceanic metal cycling; 2) understanding how isotope and trace element tracers can be used to understand the relationship between past climate change and past oceanic biological productivity, deep-ocean circulation, and patterns of continental aridity and hydrology; 3) expanding geochronology research capabilities using new methods in uranium series dating; 4) using boron and neodymium isotope measurements in carbonates to reconstruct oceanic and atmospheric circulation changes and seawater pH histories. The diverse team of early career and experienced faculty along with their students will use this instrumentation to transform our understanding of the way our planet works at the surface (biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere) and at depth (lithosphere). We intend to engage large numbers of undergraduate and graduate students in cutting-edge STEM training using state-of-the-art instrumentation through both research experiences and high-impact teaching opportunities that provide hands on training in the use of clean room laboratory techniques and in the operation of the mass spectrometer.This award provides funding for the acquisition of a Laser Ablation Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer system (LA-MC-ICPMS) to be housed in the Ken Williams Radiogenic Isotope Geosciences Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The MC-ICPMS instrument comprises an ICP source, a magnetic sector mass analyzer, and an array of multiple detectors that allows for the simultaneous measurement of multiple isotopes. This static isotope ratio measurement results in a precision far superior to that obtained by sequential isotope measurement by single collector ICPMS. Laser ablation (LA) is a widely used sampling method for in-situ ICPMS analyses of solid samples that are either difficult to digest or where resolution of spatial relationships within sampled micro-domains is critical. The laser system includes the HelEx sample chamber necessary to produce stable signals and reproducible ablation effects. The instrumentation will be used by an interdisciplinary group of researchers to address questions in climate, biogeochemistry, environmental change, and tectonics. Principle investigator projects will focus on 1) novel transition metal isotope measurements as a tracer of oceanic metal cycling; 2) understanding how isotope and trace element tracers can be used to understand the relationship between past climate change and past oceanic biological productivity, deep-ocean circulation, and patterns of continental aridity and hydrology; 3) expanding geochronology research capabilities using new methods for "petrochronology" by split-stream ICPMS and trace-element screening of zircons for high-precision U-Pb dating; 4) U/Th dating and boron isotope measurements in deep-sea corals to reconstruct ocean ventilation and seawater pH histories; 5) Nd isotopes as a tracer of oceanic and atmospheric circulation.

该奖项为购买最先进的新型激光烧蚀多收集器感应耦合等离子体质谱仪系统 (LA-MC-ICPMS) 提供资金，并将其纳入德克萨斯农工大学不断扩大的肯·威廉姆斯放射性同位素地球科学实验室。该仪器将由德克萨斯农工大学、国际海洋发现计划、德克萨斯农工大学科珀斯克里斯蒂分校和德克萨斯农工大学加尔维斯顿分校的跨学科研究小组使用，以解决气候、生物地球化学、环境变化和构造学方面的变革性和跨学科问题。具体研究课题包括：1）新型过渡金属同位素测量，如铁、锌和镉作为海洋金属循环的示踪剂； 2）了解如何使用同位素和微量元素示踪剂来了解过去的气候变化与过去的海洋生物生产力、深海环流以及大陆干旱和水文模式之间的关系； 3）利用铀系测年新方法扩大地质年代学研究能力； 4) 利用碳酸盐中的硼和钕同位素测量来重建海洋和大气环流变化以及海水 pH 历史。由早期职业生涯和经验丰富的教师及其学生组成的多元化团队将使用该仪器来改变我们对地球表面（生物圈、水圈和大气层）和深度（岩石圈）运作方式的理解。我们打算通过研究经验和高影响力的教学机会，让大量本科生和研究生使用最先进的仪器接受尖端的 STEM 培训，这些机会提供使用洁净室实验室技术和技术的实践培训。该奖项为购买激光烧蚀多收集器感应耦合等离子体质谱仪系统 (LA-MC-ICPMS) 提供资金，该系统将安装在 Ken Williams 放射性同位素地球科学中心德克萨斯农工大学实验室。 MC-ICPMS 仪器包括 ICP 源、扇形磁质量分析器和多个检测器阵列，可同时测量多种同位素。这种静态同位素比测量的精度远远优于单收集器 ICPMS 连续同位素测量所获得的精度。激光烧蚀 (LA) 是一种广泛使用的采样方法，用于对难以消解或采样微域内空间关系的分辨率至关重要的固体样品进行原位 ICPMS 分析。激光系统包括产生稳定信号和可重复烧蚀效果所必需的 HelEx 样品室。该仪器将由跨学科研究小组使用，以解决气候、生物地球化学、环境变化和构造学方面的问题。原则研究员项目将重点关注 1) 新型过渡金属同位素测量作为海洋金属循环的示踪剂； 2）了解如何使用同位素和微量元素示踪剂来了解过去的气候变化与过去的海洋生物生产力、深海环流以及大陆干旱和水文模式之间的关系； 3）利用分流ICPMS和锆石微量元素筛选进行高精度U-Pb测年的“岩石年代学”新方法，扩大地质年代学研究能力； 4) 深海珊瑚中的 U/Th 测年和硼同位素测量，以重建海洋通风和海水 pH 历史； 5) Nd同位素作为海洋和大气环流的示踪剂。