MRI: Acquisition of New and Upgraded Equipment for Critical Zone Laboratory at a Research-Intensive Undergraduate College

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0923224MerrittsFunds from this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant will support the acquisition and upgrade of field and laboratory analytical equipment to serve the research and research training goals of five PIs in the Department of Earth and Environment at Franklin and Marshall (F&M), an undergraduate institution. Specific instrument to be acquired or upgraded will include: 1) upgrade of an existing X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF); 2) an X-ray diffractometer (XRD); 3) two gamma spectrometers; 4) a portable XRF spectrometer; 5) a magnetometer; 6) a real-time kinematic GPS unit; and 7) a laser diffraction particle size analyzer. The instruments will support research with a focus on surface and near-surface Earth processes in geochemistry, geoarchaeology, hydrology, ecogeomorphology, biogeochemistry, and soil science. Undergraduate student experience with modern analytical research methods will be fostered through the F&M independent study program and summer research student fellowships.