This award provides one-half the funds for the acquisition of an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer system to be installed and operated in the Department of Geology at Syracuse University. The University is committed to providing the remaining funds necessary for this acquisition. The XRF system will provide a capability for rapid and accurate chemical analysis of rocks and mineral samples required for the research projects of the principal investigator, colleagues and graduate students at Syracuse. The instrument will also serve the teaching needs of the Department of Geology, as well as the research and teaching needs of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering departments at Syracuse. The new XRF laboratory is to be made available also to other university and college groups on a regional basis.
