Acquisition of an X-ray diffractometer for environmental mineralogy and geochemistry

该项目将使肯特州立大学能够获得一台台式X射线衍射仪(XRD)，使地球科学家能够将环境研究与本科教学相结合。对于地质学中的多个学科，X射线衍射仪是一种任务关键型技术。在一个项目中，X射线衍射仪将用于研究赫夫伦分水岭的酸性矿山废水，该分水岭距离肯特州立大学校园不到一个小时，便于进行实地考察和研究。学生将收集自己的样本，然后使用X射线衍射仪来确定土壤矿物学是风化前锋深度的函数。在冻土带和北方生态系统的地球化学研究中，X射线衍射仪将被用来定量散体土壤中结晶铁相的丰度。使用该仪器进行的研究将通过深入了解影响受污染土地和水修复的矿物学和地球化学过程而直接造福社会。本科生操作这台仪器所学的技能将是毕业后进入广泛工作岗位的宝贵培训。肯特州立大学购买了一台台式X射线衍射仪(XRD)，将进一步研究支持生命的“临界区”内矿物、水和生物群之间的相互作用。该研究所将支持环境矿物学和地球化学方面的研究和教育，以便更好地评估人类对关键区过程的影响。X射线衍射仪是鉴定土壤矿物学的一种有效方法，它是风化锋深度和土壤水中金属释放的函数。X射线衍射将支持正在进行的研究项目，这些项目包括：(1)煤矿废渣生态系统中的矿物风化和金属循环；(2)土壤环境中的锰-碳耦合作用；(3)对气候敏感的冻土带和北方生态系统中的金属和养分循环；(4)页岩中非常规碳氢化合物矿床的形成。用X射线衍射仪进行的测量将被纳入一系列本科生的课堂实验室项目中。它的便携性使其可以转移到不同的实验室和教室，本科生可以接受培训，在一小时内使用该仪器收集和分析数据。大多数地质学、材料科学和工程工业的工作都需要能够用X射线衍射仪表征固相。

This project will enable Kent State University to acquire a benchtop X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) that will allow geoscientists to integrate environmental research and undergraduate teaching. XRD is a mission critical technique for multiple disciplines within geology. In one project the XRD will be used to study acid mine drainage at the Huff Run Watershed, which is located less than one hour from the Kent State campus and readily accessible for field trips and research. Students will collect their own samples and then use the XRD to identify soil mineralogy as a function of depth across the weathering front. In a study of the geochemistry of tundra and boreal ecosystems, the XRD will be used to quantify the abundance of crystalline iron phases in the bulk soils. The research conducted using the instrument will be of direct benefit to society through insights into mineralogical and geochemical processes that affect remediation of contaminated land and water. The skills learned by undergraduates operating this instrument will be valuable training for entering a wide range of jobs after graduating.The acquisition of a benchtop X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) by Kent State University will further research in the interactions between minerals, water, and biota within the "Critical Zone" that supports life. The XRD will support research and education in Environmental Mineralogy and Geochemistry in order to better evaluate human impacts on Critical Zone processes. The XRD is an efficient and effective method for identifying soil mineralogy as a function of depth across the weathering front and metal release into soil water. The XRD will support ongoing research projects that include: (1) mineral weathering and metal cycling in ecosystems developed on coal mine waste; (2) coupled manganese-carbon interactions in soil environments; and (3) metal and nutrient cycling in climate-sensitive tundra and boreal ecosystems; and (4) the formation of unconventional hydrocarbon deposits in shale. Measurements made with the XRD will be incorporated into class laboratory projects for a range of undergraduate classes. Its portability allows it to be moved to different laboratories and classrooms and undergraduates can be trained to use the instrument to collect and analyze data within an hour. Most geology, materials science, and engineering industry jobs require the ability to characterize solid phases by XRD.