Award Abstract #0820771
MRI: Acquisition of a Multiple Collector ICPMS for Geochemical and Cosmochemical Studies at DTM

NSF Org:	EAR Division of Earth Sciences
Initial Amendment Date:	July 14, 2008
Latest Amendment Date:	November 17, 2009
Award Number:	0820771
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Russell C. Kelz EAR Division of Earth Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	July 15, 2008
Expires:	June 30, 2009 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$650000
Investigator(s):	Richard Carlson rcarlson@ciw.edu (Principal Investigator) Steven Shirey (Co-Principal Investigator) Conel Alexander (Co-Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	Carnegie Institution of Washington 1530 P ST NW WASHINGTON, DC 20005 202/387-6400
NSF Program(s):	MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Field Application(s):	0000099 Other Applications NEC
Program Reference Code(s):	OTHR, 0000
Program Element Code(s):	1189

ABSTRACT

0820771

Carlson

Funds from this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant will support acquisition of a multicollector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) and laser ablation (LA) microprobe at the Carnegie Institution of Washington (CIW). The instrument will augment and ultimately supplant two existing first generation MC-ICP-MS instruments purchased 10 years ago with support from the NSF-MRI-EAR program. These instruments are no longer supported by the manufacturer. A state-of-the-art MC-ICP-MS and a 193 nm LA microprobe will allow for substantial improvements in mass detection sensitivity, mass fractionation stability, detector accuracy, reliability, and ease of use compared to existing first generation instruments at CIW. A new LA-MC-ICP-MS would support a range of research in cosmo- and geochemistry requiring microspatially resolved high precision analyses of isotope ratios of alkali metals, transition metals, Platinum group (PGE) and rare earth elements. The MC-ICP-MS will also allow for continuation of the Carnegie isotope geochemistry postdoctoral program using the latest plasma mass spectrometry techniques. Specific research areas that will be fostered with the new instrument will include investigations of: 1) the degree of chemical and isotopic heterogeneity in the early solar nebula and its influence on the bulk composition of the terrestrial planets; 2) the timing of metal-silicate fractionation on planetesimals and the degree of metal-silicate equilibrium during formation of Earth?s core; 3) Re-Os isotopic and PGE abundance variations as recorders of the history and processes of mantle differentiation in relation to continent formation; and 4) processes that create compositional heterogeneity in the mantle.

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