Upgrade of Scanning Electron Microscopy Facilities at Montana State University: Supporting Research on the Lithosphere, Cryosphere, and Critical Zone

This project is jointly funded by the EAR Instrumentation and Facilities Program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). This project will upgrade imaging and analytical capabilities of two scanning electron microscopes operated in the Imaging and Chemical Analysis Laboratory at Montana State University. The new instrumentation includes a) energy dispersive spectrometry for elemental analysis and mapping; b) electron back-scattered diffraction detector for in situ micron-scale phase identification, determination of crystallographic orientation, and textural mapping; c) a cathodoluminescence detector that is used to detect small scale variations of trace activator elements (transition metals and rare earth elements) and crystal defects in host materials; and d) updated computer and software to enable advanced image and spectral processing.

This instrumentation will provide the means to address the research agenda defined in the recent National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine report (2020) A Vision for NSF Earth Sciences 2020-2030, "Earth in Time", and will contribute to the analytical capabilities available through the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure program.

These instruments are broadly used in the chemical and physical characterization of Earth materials, and related engineered materials such as semi-conductors and ceramics. Applications include: geochronology/thermochronology, deformation mechanisms of mid-crustal rocks, igneous processes and volcanology, reactive transport of fluids in porous rocks, sedimentary diagenetic processes, evolution of dinosaurs through characterization of fossil bone, eggshells and teeth, use of cryogenic-SEM methods to characterize snow, ice and glacial textures, geomicrobiology and biomineralization processes and products, exploration for mineral resource deposits and environmental remediation of mines, and studies of impacts of Earth materials on human health.

Montana State University is a land grant institution that seeks to prepare the workforce of the future, and also supports technology transfer to regional and national companies to support their research and development programs. The ICAL facility serves as a nexus of learning to recruit and train future scientists through K-12 class demonstrations, undergraduate student class projects and research experiences, graduate student thesis and dissertation research, and continuing professional development training.

This instrumentation is essential for early career faculty development to prepare for their emerging research initiatives.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.