The Beijing Secondary Ion Probe Center has made a groundbreaking discovery by analyzing the third known zircon grain in the world using its highly sensitive and high-resolution secondary ion probe mass spectrometer. This particular zircon is unique because it preserves both its original growth shell and an older core, offering a rare glimpse into Earth's early history. With an age of 4.3 billion years, this zircon serves as a crucial key to unlocking the mysteries of the first 500 million years after Earth's formation. Previous discoveries, such as those by Australian researchers, were single, fragmented particles found in much younger sedimentary rocks, lacking the original structural features. The two previously discovered 4.3-billion-year-old zircons were also broken, making them less informative. The findings from the Beijing center have significantly advanced our understanding of Earth's early geological evolution.
The center, a national scientific facility jointly established by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Land and Resources, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, invested 26 million yuan in its development. Its core instrument, the ninth-generation SHRIMP II secondary ion probe, has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of geochronology. Over the past three years, the center has focused on shared access and efficient use of the SHRIMP II, achieving international-level performance in both operational efficiency and scientific output.
Sharing large-scale scientific instruments with domestic and international researchers is a fundamental policy of the center. Within three years of operation, the center allocated 40% of its resources to the Ministry of Land and Resources, 20% to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 20% to universities, 8% to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and 12% to foreign institutions. A total of 107 researchers from over 30 organizations, including those from the U.S., UK, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, Cuba, and others, have used the SHRIMP II for their studies. In recent years, the net analysis time has exceeded 24 hours per day, reaching up to 301 days in 2004 alone.
According to global assessments, the utilization and openness of the SHRIMP II at the Beijing Secondary Ion Probe Center rank among the top worldwide. Only two Australian laboratories match its level of accessibility and efficiency, while U.S. facilities operate at less than one-third of the center’s capacity. Japanese and Russian centers are even less active, with limited daily operations. This high level of usage ensures significant returns on equipment investment, providing valuable opportunities for geoscientists around the world.
Researchers from both China and abroad have generated a wealth of data through the SHRIMP II, leading to numerous publications. In 2003, 33 papers were published, and by 2004, that number had grown to 73, including one in *Nature*. The instrument has also been used to determine the timing of three stages in the metamorphic evolution of ultrahigh-pressure rocks in China’s Dabie Mountains, providing critical insights into deep crustal processes.
The open access to SHRIMP II has accelerated the center’s internationalization. Regular academic exchanges have brought together scholars from around the world, and the annual “Beijing SHRIMP Results Reporting Conference†has become a key event, featuring over 40 new research papers each year. As a result, the center has gained widespread recognition globally, becoming an essential part of the international geoscience community.
Foreign scholars have moved beyond simply using the instrument to engaging in collaborative research with the center on frontier topics. Recently, the center has partnered with Italian universities on the Alps, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences on ophiolites in Mongolia, and Australian institutions on Greenland’s geology. This shift marks a significant step in China’s ability to conduct international geological research, enhancing not only scientific knowledge but also strategic understanding of neighboring regions’ geology, environment, and resources. This work plays a vital role in the country’s long-term interests.
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