NSF Org:	EAR Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient:	MIAMI UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	January 27, 2006
Latest Amendment Date:	January 27, 2006
Award Number:	0549552
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Russell Kelz EAR  Division Of Earth Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	February 15, 2006
End Date:	January 31, 2008 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$31,500.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$31,500.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2006 = $31,500.00
History of Investigator:	Elisabeth Widom (Principal Investigator) widome@MiamiOH.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Miami University 501 E HIGH ST OXFORD OH  US  45056-1846 (513)529-3600
Sponsor Congressional District:	08
Primary Place of Performance:	Miami University 501 E HIGH ST OXFORD OH  US  45056-1846
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	08
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	T6J6AF3AM8M8
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Instrumentation & Facilities
Primary Program Source:	app-0106
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	158000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

0549552
Widom


This project involves the acquisition of a microwave digestion system and the development of microwave sample preparation techniques for geochemical and geochronological applications. The microwave digestion system provides a safe, clean and efficient mechanism for digestion of diverse geologic materials for high precision trace element abundance and isotope ratio measurements, and allows for increased sample throughput afforded by substantially faster digestion and dry-down times. The microwave digestion system is particularly important as an alternative to Carius tube digestions for rhenium-osmium isotope and platinum group element studies, and as an alternative to teflon bomb digestions for dissolution of resistant phases (e.g. zircon, pyrochlore, spinel, chromite, fluorite) for trace element, uranium series disequilibria and samarium-neodymium geochronology studies. This equipment is used extensively in diverse on-going funded research projects involving Geology faculty and graduate and undergraduate students at Miami University. In addition, the microwave system is used for teaching in courses with lab-based exercises to train students in sample dissolution techniques and state-of-the-art analytical techniques including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and thermal ionization mass spectrometry.

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