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

该项目将使肯特州立大学获得一台台式x射线衍射仪（XRD），这将使地球科学家能够将环境研究与本科教学相结合。XRD是地质领域多学科的关键技术。在一个项目中，XRD将用于研究Huff Run流域的酸性矿山排水，该流域距离肯特州立大学校园不到一小时的路程，便于实地考察和研究。学生们将收集自己的样品，然后使用XRD来识别土壤矿物学，作为风化前沿深度的函数。在冻土带和北方生态系统的地球化学研究中，XRD将用于量化块状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污染土地和水的修复的矿物学和地球化学过程，直接造福于社会。本科生所掌握的操作仪器的技能将成为毕业后从事广泛工作的宝贵训练。肯特州立大学获得的台式x射线衍射仪（XRD）将进一步研究支持生命的“关键区域”内矿物质、水和生物群之间的相互作用。XRD将支持环境矿物学和地球化学的研究和教育，以便更好地评估人类对临界带过程的影响。XRD是识别土壤矿物学随风化锋深度和金属释放到土壤水中的函数的有效方法。XRD将支持正在进行的研究项目，包括：(1)在煤矿废弃物上开发的生态系统中的矿物风化和金属循环；(2)土壤环境锰碳耦合相互作用；(3)气候敏感苔原和北方生态系统的金属和养分循环；(4)页岩中非常规油气矿床的形成。用XRD进行的测量将被纳入一系列本科课程的课堂实验项目中。它的便携性允许它移动到不同的实验室和教室，本科生可以训练使用仪器在一个小时内收集和分析数据。大多数地质学、材料科学和工程行业的工作都需要能够用XRD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.