This award provides 48 percent of the funds to acquire an electron probe microanalyzer that will be installed and operated in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Oregon. The remaining 52 percent is to be provided by the institution. The new instrument will replace a 21-year old machine that is no longer capable of providing the microanalytical data critical to a wide range of geoscience research at the University including projects in metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary petrology; experimental petrology; mineralogy and crystallography; ore deposits; paleopedology; geochemistry. In addition, research by Department of Chemistry faculty is also scheduled to use the instrument as a means of characterizing new solid-state materials such as modulated thin-film composites.
