Undergraduate Geology Curriculum Enhancement With an X-Ray Diffractometer

地理和地球科学系通过教授标准地质学课程以及野外和实验室问题的应用，培训地球科学专业人员和中学教师。为了加强这一培训方案，该部正在购置一台x射线衍射仪。这项收购在两个层面上极大地改进了地理学和地球科学课程：(1)学生(主要是在环境行业工作的学生)可以学习如何使用这种仪器作为一种分析工具，用来研究地质问题；(2)通过使用X射线衍射仪的实验室练习，可以教授矿物学、岩石学和沉积地质学的许多基本地质学概念，通过这些练习，学生可以熟悉仪器的理论和操作。该项目的实施需要将X射线衍射学纳入现有的三门课程(矿物学、岩石学和地层学与沉积学)。此外，一门新课程(地质学实验室方法)将教授X射线衍射仪在各种地质问题上的应用。鼓励学生利用这一工具的力量来设计他们自己的高级研究课程项目。

The Department of Geography and Earth Science trains earth science professionals and secondary teachers through instruction in the standard geology curriculum and the application of field and laboratory problems. To enhance this training program, the department is obtaining an x-ray diffractometer (XRD). This acquisition significantly improves the Geography and Earth Science curricula on two levels: (1) students, most of whom are destined for employment in the environmental industry, can learn to use this device as an analytical tool with which geologic problems can be investigated and (2) many basic geologic concepts of mineralogy, petrology, and sedimentary geology can be taught by laboratory exercises employing the XRD, through which students become familiar with the theory and operation of the instrument. Execution of this project entails the integration of the XRD into three existing courses (Mineralogy, Petrology, and Stratigraphy and Sedimentation). In addition, applications of the XRD to various geologic problems are being taught in a new course (Laboratory Methods in Geology). Students are encouraged to utilize the power of this instrument in designing their own projects for the course in senior research.