Funding from this Major Research Instrumentation Program grant supports acquisition of a powder x-ray diffractometer (XRD) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). The powder XRD will support a range of research requiring phase identification and crystallographic structure determinations of natural and man made materials. Studies of the interface structure and reactivity of iron oxyhydroxides under a range of environmental conditions, studies of phase relationships, speciation and partitioning behavior of transition metals that are released to the environment via weathering and ore mineral processing, studies of the mineralogy of artic ice-brine systems, phase identification of paleosols and igneous rock forming minerals, and characterization of synthetic materials including high temperature ceramics and nanocomposite piezoelectric materials for use in miniaturized electronic devices will all be facilitated. The new powder XRD would be the first state-of-the-art XRD in the state of Alaska and will support faculty and student research across the Departments of Geology and Geophysics, the UAF Geophysical Institute, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Plant, Animal and Soil Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, the UAF Mineral Industry Research Laboratory, the Petroleum Development Laboratory, and the UAF Office of Electronic Miniaturization.
