"Pet Rocks:" Constructivist Laboratory Investigations in Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry

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This project will improve the laboratories of those undergraduate courses in Northeastern Illinois University' s Earth Science curriculum that address concepts in mineralogy, petrology, and high temperature geochemistry. The primary objective is to revise selected lab exercises and incorporate extended group projects that are constructivist in approach, making maximal use of our existing facilities. The acquisition of the rock-preparation equipment requested here will make it possible to implement exercises that will utilize our X-ray diffractometer, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, high temperature furnaces, and petrographic microscopes in a practical and efficient manner. With the changes outlined in this proposal, students will learn key mineralogic and petrologic concepts as they use a variety of analytical equipment to conduct their own experiments, gather their own data, and examine samples of their choosing.