Eruption of the Continental Flood Basalts at -259 Ma in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China: Evidence from Laser Microprobe ^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Dating

A suite of continental flood basalts sampled over a vast exposure and stratigraphic thickness in the Emeishan large igneous province （LIP）, SW China was investigated for laser microprobe ^40Ar/^39Ar dating. There are two ^40Ar/^39Ar age groups for these basalts, corresponding to 259-246 Ma and 177-137 Ma, respectively. A well-defined isochron gives an eruption age of huge quantities of mafic magmas at 258.9±3.4 Ma, which is identical to previous dating and paleontological data. Much younger ^40Ar/^39Ar ages for some basalts with Iow-greenschist metamorphic facies probably recorded a late thermo-tectonic event caused by collision between the Yangtze and Qiangtang continental blocks during the Mesozoic, which resulted in the reset of argon isotope system. The ^40Ar/^39Ar age data, we present here, combined with previous dating and paleontological data, suggest relatively short duration （about 3 Ma） of mafic volcanism, which have important implication on mantle plume genesis of the Emeishan continental flood basalts in the LIP.

Structures of Syn-deformational Granites in the Longquanguan Shear Zone and Their Monazite Electronic Microprobe Dating

The Longquanguan shear zone is an important structural belt in the North China Craton, separating the underlying Fuping complex from the overlying Wutai complex. This shear zone has experienced three episodes of deformation: the first and main episode is a ductile top-to-ESE shear along the gently northwest-west dipping foliations, while the other two episodes are later collapse sliding. Prolonged granites parallel to the shear foliations make one of the main compositions of the Longquanguan shear zone. These granites experienced deformation to form mylonitic rocks when they emplaced during the first episode of deformation. Structural characters of the granites and their contacts to the country rocks indicate that these granites possibly resulted from in-situ partial remelting by shearing, i.e., they are syn-deformational granites. Monazites in these mylonitic granites are magmatic minerals and their crystallization ages may represent ages of the magmatic events, and also the ages for the main deformation of the Longquanguan shear zone. Monazite electronic microprobe dating were carried on two samples of granite, which gives multiple peak ages, among which 1,846 Ma and 1,877 Ma are the main peak ages for the two samples. These ages represent the main deformation of the Longquanguan shear zone, which is consistent with the main regional geological event at about 1,850 Ma caused by the collision between the Eastern and Western Blocks in North China. The good match between the monazite ages and the corresponding regional tectono-thermal events shows the feasibility and reliability of monazite electronic microprobe dating.

THE SCANNING NUCLEAR MICROPROBE AT SINR

This paper describes the scanning nuclear microprobe facilities established at the Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research. The Russion quadruplet constructed with four magnetic quadrupolets is used for microbeam formation. The long focus of the lens makes the working distance long enough to accommodate the scanning coils and the detectors for PIXE, RBS, RFS, NRA and SE experiments. A 5 μm focussed beam is scanned continously by a pair of coils. A multiparameter multidetector data system for the nuclear microprobe is based on the idea of Total quantitative scanning analysis (TQSA) suggested by Melbourne University. A digital graphic displayer is a good substitute for an ordinary storage oscilloscope for on- line scanned area monitoring. The new microprobe meets high demands of biologists and geologists on applications.

Scanning proton microprobe microanalysis for the assessmentof homogeneity of IAEA urban dust reference materials

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STUDY ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF POLYVINYL CHLORIDE/POLYSTYRENE BLENDS BY ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS

The morphology of polyvinyl chloride/polystyrene (PVC/PS) blend samples with different mass ratios, prepared by means of solution casting and melt mixing, have been successfully examined by electron microprobe analysis (EMP). This experiment was performed in a scanning electron microscope attached to an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer. Differential scanning calorimetry was also used to investigate the phase separation of the blends. The results show that PVC and PS are incompatible and the blends have sea-islands phase structures. Blends prepared via melt mixing have finer phase-dispersion than those prepared via solution casting.

The Petrography, Mineralography and Microprobe Analysis on New Exploratory Excavation Phase in Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine Pit and Comparing Them with Existing Data from the Other Area in South West Sarcheshmeh

Kerman region where Sarcheshmeh zone is located includes the end part of Uremia-Dokhtar Zone. Extrusive igneous group in Sarcheshmeh is as follows: 1) andesite and 2) rhyodacite. The group of intrusive igneous rocks includes 1) porphyry granite, 2) porphyry granodiorite, and 3) porphyry diorite. Nochoon mine is located at 4 km of southwest of Sarcheshmeh copper mine and it comprises of a group of extrusive igneous rocks as follows: 1) andesite, and 2) dacite. Based on results of microprobe analysis, pyroxene mineral’s composition in these rocks of diopside and augite indicates amphiboles of composite zone of magnesium hosting type and existing plagioclases in regional rock for labradorite and bitonit composition. The most common compounds are chlorite with formula among antigorite and amosite. Comparison of magnetite mineralization in Sarcheshmeh and Nochoon indicates vein mineralization in Nochoon and disseminated granulation in Sarcheshmeh and particularly concerning to chalcopyrite, Nochoon includes more veins than Sarcheshmeh.

Microprobe Mapping of Rare Earth Element Distribution in Round Top Yttrofluorite Deposit

The electron microprobe maps the spatial distribution of elements in a rock at a sub-mineral-grain scale to provide a basis for understanding mineralization processes and to determine optimal strategies for extraction of valuable target elements. Round Top Mountain (near the town of Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth County, west Texas, USA) is a peraluminous rhyolite laccolith that is homogeneously mineralized at over 500 ppm rare earths, more than 70% of which are yttrium and heavy rare earths (YHREEs). The massive deposit is exposed at the surface as a mountain some 2 km in diameter and 375 m in height. Round Top Mountain also contains Li, Be, U, Th, Nb, Ta, Ga, Rb, Cs, Sn, and F. The valuable YHREEs are hosted in yttrofluorite, which is soluble in dilute sulfuric acid. Texas Mineral Resources Corporation proposes to surface mine, crush, and heap leach the deposit. The distribution of YHREEs, and that of other trace elements, is remarkably homogeneous at outcrop drill hole scale. Here we document that YHREE mineralization appears pervasive through the rhyolite at a millimeter scale. Back scattered electron (BSE) and characteristic X-ray maps reveal the fine grain size and apparently random and dispersed spatial distribution of the yttrofluorite that hosts Round Top’s valuable YHREEs. The yttrofluorite grains do not appear to cluster at special mineralized locations, e.g., in pores or along cracks in the rhyolite. The same is apparently true of such other potentially valuable minerals as cassiterite and uranium species. These findings confirm that the distribution of YHREEs in Round Top Mountain rhyolite is homogeneous through different orders of magnitude of scale, i.e., from outcrop (as seen in the companion work in this volume) to sub-thin section. The material thus is ideal for a heap leach operation where homogeneous feedstock is crucial to consistent and economic operation. The findings also confirm and explain why mechanical separation would prove very difficult and expensive due to the astronomical number of yttrofluorite grains in even a golf-ball-size piece of Round Top rhyolite.

Whispering-gallery optical microprobe for photoacoustic imaging

Optical ultrasonic probes,exemplified by Fabry–Perot cavities on optical fibers,have small sizes,high sensitivity,and pure optical characteristics,making them highly attractive in high-resolution ultrasonic/photoacoustic imaging,especially in near-field or endoscopic scenarios.Taking a different approach,we demonstrate an ultrasensitive and broadband ultrasound microprobe formed by an optical whispering-gallery-mode polymer microcavity coupled to a U-shaped microfiber.With the h/√igh-quality(Q)factors(>10^(6)),the noise equivalent pressure of the ultrasound microprobe reaches 1.07 m Pa∕Hz with a record broadband response of 150 MHz and a large detection angle of 180°.Our results show that this optical microprobe can overcome the strong decay resulting from ultrasound diverging and medium absorption through short working distances.We further demonstrate high-quality in vivo whole-body photoacoustic imaging of a zebrafish larva.Our implementation provides a new strategy for developing miniature ultrasound detectors and holds great potential for broad applications.

Electron microprobe analysis of Hf and Ti in ultrahigh temperature zircon:Optimized approaches and perspectives

Zircon as a multi-objective typomorphic mineral commonly contains diverse trace elements with specific petrogenetic significances.The Hf abundance in zircon is sensitively indicative of melt fractionation during zircon growth on one hand,and on another,the Ti content is a robust temperature sensor of zircon crystallization and has been effectively u tilized in thermometric estimation.A Hf-Ti negative correlation was previously reported in igneous zircons,and thus a potential Hf thermometry was then speculated.In this work,we performed reliable electron microprobe(EMP)measurements of Hf and Ti in ultrahigh temperature(UHT)zircons from the North China Craton,in optimizing point,line and grid analysis.The EMP contents of Hf and Ti both show a wide range of fluctuation owing to the smaller probe spot,and some of them are higher than the LAICPMS data.The Hf-Ti correlation in UHT zircons displays dual and thus complicated patterns in contrast with the previous consideration,which implicates some other factors controlling the geochemical behaviors of Hf and Ti in zircons.Generally,the estimated Ti temperatures based on the EMP analyses are obviously higher than the LA-ICPMS outcomes,but are well consistent with the actual peak condition of the parent rock.It explains the common underestimation of Ti temperatures in hightemperature metamorphic rocks,by using LA-ICPMS analyses.

A whispering-gallery scanning microprobe for Raman spectroscopy and imaging

Optical whispering-gallery-mode microsensors are a promising platform for many applications,such as biomedical monitoring,magnetic sensing,and vibration detection.However,like many other micro/nanosensors,they cannot simultaneously have two critical properties–ultrahigh sensitivity and large detection area,which are desired for most sensing applications.Here,we report a novel scanning whispering-gallery-mode microprobe optimized for both features and demonstrate enhanced Raman spectroscopy,providing high-specificity information on molecular fingerprints that are important for numerous sensing applications.Combining the superiorities of whispering-gallery modes and nanoplasmonics,the microprobe exhibits a two-orders-of-magnitude sensitivity improvement over traditional plasmonics-only enhancement;this leads to molecular detection demonstrated with stronger target signals but less optical power required than surface-enhanced-Raman-spectroscopy substrates.Furthermore,the scanning microprobe greatly expands the effective detection area and realizes two-dimensional micron-resolution Raman imaging of molecular distribution.The versatile and ultrasensitive scanning microprobe configuration will thus benefit material characterization,chemical imaging,and quantum-enhanced sensing.

Synchrotron radiation XRF microprobe investigation of elemental distribution in femoral head slice with osteoporosis

This note deals with the scanning of femoral head slices from both normal and osteoporosis subjects using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) microprobe technique. The sample preparation and experimental apparatus are described in detail. The quantitative computerized tomography (QCT) of elemental distribution, such as Ca, P, K, Fe, Zn, Sr and Pb in bone slice tissue including cartilage, substantial compact and substantial spongy, is investigated. Combined with the correlation between P, K, Zn, Sr and Ca, the loss way of minerals and the physiological functions of some metal elements in bone are also discussed.

Application of microprobe-based flank method analysis of Fe^3＋ in garnet ofNorth Qilian eclogite and its geological implication

A newly developed microprobe-based methodology(the Flank Method)for Fe^(3+)/RFe quantification has been successfully applied to some natural garnets from the North Qilian eclogites by JEOL JXA-8100microprobe at Peking University.The results demonstrated an obvious discrepancy in comparison with the outcomes by conventional stoichiometric calculations.This methodology allows to measure theFe^(3+)/Rmeasurement of Fe^(3+)According to the compositional zonation displayed in the studied eclogitic garnets from North Qilian,a prograde metamorphic°C to 22 kbar,600°C was reconstructed.More interestingly,the measured Fe^(3+)/RFe ratios in garnets decreasing from core to rim may probably imply that the oxygen fugacity(f O_2)declines with the depth of the subduction zone.

Microprobe of structure of crystal/liquid interface boundary layers

The molecular structures and its evolutive regularities within the boundary layers in the crystal growth of KDP and DKDP have been studied in real time by using holography and Raman microprobe. The experiments show that the molecular structure of mother solution within the boundary layers is distinctly different from that of the solutions alone. In this paper, the effects of cations within the boundary layers on the structure of solution are considered. Within the characteristic boundary layers, the effects of cations cause the changes in O-P-O bond angle, electronic density redistribution of the phosphate groups, and significant changes in the bond intensity, thus leading to the breaking of partial hydrogen bonds of the phosphate associations, the readjustment of geometry of anionic phosphate groups and desolvation, and the forming of the smectic ordering structure of the anions_cations. Finally, the crystallization unit of anion_cation should be formed at the proximate interface.

Laser Microprobe (40)~Ar/(39)~Ar Dating System

1 Introduction By the 40Ar/39Ar method of K-Ar dating, the sample is irradiated with fastneutrons to induce the reaction 39K（n,p）39Ar. The age of the sample is calculatedfrom the 40Ar/39Ar ratio after appropriate corrections using the following equation: T=（1/λ）1n(1+J×40Ar/39Ar)where λ is the decay constant of 40Ar/39Ar (=5.543×10-10 a-1).The conversion J,for the reaction 39K（n,p）39Ar, is determined by irradiating a monitor to be determined. The laser microprobe 40Ar/39Ar method is an improvement on the conventional40Ar/39Ar method and has advantages over the latter including higher precision, smallersample size and the elimination of problems caused by sample inhomogeneity. Themethod uses either pulse or continuous laser, the latter mainly for determination ofage spectrum and the former for determination of total fusion age from small area ofa single grain. This project is for the pulse laser microprobe 40Ar/39Ar dating. Itsbiggest

Source identification of individual PM_(2.5) particles in Shanghai air in the winter of 2007 with synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe

In order to further understand the sources of PM2.5 in Shanghai air, the synchrotron X-ray fluores- cence microprobe at the BL-4A Beamline of Photon Factory of High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Japan, was applied to analyze the individual PM2.5 particles collected from Shanghai air in the winter of 2007. Eight categories of emission sources were recognized in these individual particles. The source identification shows that most of the analyzed PM2.5 particles are derived from vehicle exhaust and metallurgical emissions. This suggests that the important emission sources of PM2.5 in Shanghai air would be vehicle exhaust and metallurgical activities.

Application of scanning proton microprobe and neutron activation analysis to studying the platinum distribution of a low-gradeplatinum deposit

In the ores of low-grade platinum deposits, the platinum concentration is very low(average Pt content 【1 μg. g-1), and the platinum minerals often occur as micron grains,thus making it difficult to study the platinum distribution oniy by routine tools, such aselectron microprobes or optic microscopes. As a result, the research and exploitation ofthese deposits in our country is hampered by the lack of more powerful tools.

The Application of Scanning Proton Microprobe (SPMP) in Study of Trace Gold Distribution

Studies on distribution of trace gold mostly focus on some samples in whichgold content is well above 100 ppm at the present time due to the limitation of analy-sis methods. Progress in research on trace gold (usually less than 100 ppm to n ppm)was rarely reported. Although electronic microprobe (EMP) and scanning electronicmicroprobe (SEM) have a high resolution, their detection limits are still 100-500ppm and 100-300 ppm, respectively. And also the electronic paramagnetic reso-nance spectrometer, an effective method for determining lattice gold of a few tenppm level, unfortunately is still incapable of doing such research. Newly

A simple method for subtracting background from elemental maps of scanning proton microprobe

At present, the conventional elemental mapping method for routine scanning protonmicroprobe analyses is the TCEW method. With this method, the elemental mapsare obtained by making use of the total counts entering a simple energy window onan X-ray peak. The fatal disadvantage of this method is that the total counts entering anenergy window contain the contribution of continuum background. Even when the elementof interest is abeent, the variation in the intensity of the background within the energy

Determination of Calcium in Olivine by Proton Microprobe and Its Implication

Ca is a minor component of olivine (oliv). Its concentration measured by electron microprobe (EMP) is about 0.1—0.5%, which is close to the minimum detection limit. As Ca distribution between oliv and clinopyroxene (cpx)has the possibility of being used as geothermobarometers, it is very important to measure accurately the Ca content in oliv. Proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique as a new high energy analysis method shows advantage in high sensitivity and accuracy of microanalyses and begins to be