Use of XRF Spectrometry to Enhance an Integrated Geochemistry Component of the Undergraduate Geology Curriculum

要求资助波长色散X射线光谱仪（WDXRF），我们的学生将获得基于课程和独立研究项目的全岩化学分析。我们建议开发一个综合的地球化学学习经验，早期在地质学专业，使获得的技能，解决地球化学问题，使用分析仪器，可以应用到上层的子学科和独立的研究问题。 该项目将侧重于我们的必修课程，地球系统的岩石学和化学，其中矿物学和实验室化学形成了该专业的两年制研究的核心。岩石学正处于被我们最新的教员基因yogodzinski完全改革为基于调查的格式的早期阶段。这种形式包括精心构思和控制类的研究项目，这有助于在岩石和矿物协会的研究基本的地球化学原理的理解。这种方法，最近在地球系统的化学过程中引入，已被证明是一个可行的手段，为学生应用化学原理的地质问题和教师教研究方法。WDXRF的收购将使我们的专业更好地量化火成岩，变质和沉积过程，通过我们提出的综合学习经验，“跟踪各种主要，次要和微量元素的命运”。 在我们的课程的顶点，一个必要的独立研究项目，更大的学生需求全岩化学数据已在很大程度上未得到满足。我们将描述一些项目，将受益于内部XRF光谱仪。我们预计，在未来的学生独立研究项目中，XRF将有更大的用途。总的来说，我们正在努力在实地研究和仪器分析之间取得平衡。WDXRF是链条中缺失的一环，为学生提供准确和精确的全岩化学数据，以便他们可以更充分地了解他们在现场如此勤奋地观察到的岩石协会。

Funding is requested for a Wave-length Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (WDXRF) from which our students will obtain whole-rock chemical analyses for course-based and independent research projects. We propose to develop an integrated geochemical learning experience early in the geology major so that skills acquired in geochemical problem solving using analytical instrumentation-can be applied to upper level subdisciplines and independent research problems. This project will focus on our required courses, Petrology and Chemistry of Earth Systems, which with Mineralogy and Bench Chemistry form the nucleus of the sophomore-year studies in the major. Petrology is in the early stages of being completely reformed into an inquiry-based format by our newest faculty member, Gene Yogodzinski. This format includes well conceived and controlled class research projects which aid in the understanding of geochemical principles fundamental to the study of rock and mineral associations. This approach, recently introduced in the Chemistry of Earth Systems course, has proven to be a viable means for students to apply chemical principles to geologic problems and for faculty to teach research methodologies. The acquisition of a WDXRF will allow our majors to better quantify igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary processes by "tracing the fate" of various major, minor, and trace elements through the integrated learning experience we propose. In the capstone of our curriculum, a required independent research project, greater student demand for whole rock chemical data has been largely unmet. We will describe some of the projects that would have benefited from an in-house XRF spectrometer. We foresee even greater use for an XRF in student independent research projects in the future. Overall, we are striving for a balance between field study and instrumental analysis. An WDXRF is the missing link in the chain to provide students with accurate and precise whole rock chemical data in order that they may more fully understa nd the rock associations they observe so diligently in the field.