Implementing Discovery-Based Geochemistry Labs and Broadening the Scope of Research Projects in Introductory and Advanced Geology Courses through XRF-Spectrometry

该项目支持一系列基于发现的地球化学实验室项目。它正在改进其他三门地质学课程的研究项目，包括一个高入学率的入门课程，并支持一个扩大的学生研究项目。所有这些改进都是通过新的x射线荧光光谱仪（XRF）和配套设备实现的。为了使地球化学更适合环境科学专业的化学和生物学专业的学生，以及对环境领域感兴趣的地质学专业的学生，正在实施一系列的实验室项目，让学生从化学的角度详细了解岩石循环。这些项目的主题包括化学风化、吸附、沉积分异和火成岩分异。XRF设备通过扩大学生可用的分析工作的精度和范围，增强了其他课程中现有的项目。在《地质学导论》中，一个成功的水质研究项目正在扩大，允许学生不仅研究水，还研究沉积物和土壤样本。在岩石学中，分光仪的精度和效率使教师能够扩展岩石组化学的课堂项目，以至于分析工作正在成为介绍重要岩石组合化学特征的主要手段。在环境地质学中，班级研究项目正在通过研究土壤和沉积物而得到扩展。

This project is supporting a sequence of discovery-based geochemistry laboratory projects. It is making improvements in the research projects of three other geology courses, including a high-enrollment introductory course, and supporting an expanding student research program. All of these improvements are being made possible by the new x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) and supporting equipment. In order to make geochemistry more appropriate for chemistry and biology majors in environmental sciences concentration, as well as for geology majors interested in environmental fields, a sequence of laboratory projects is being implemented to give students a detailed view of the rock cycle from a chemical perspective. The subjects of these projects include chemical weathering, adsorption, sedimentary differentiation, and igneous fractionation. The XRF equipment enhancing existing projects in other courses by expanding the precision and range of analytical work available to students. In Introductory Geology, a successful water-quality research project is being broadened by allowing students to work with sediment and soil samples as well as with water. In Petrology, the precision and efficiency of the spectrometer is allowing faculty to expand class projects on the chemistry of rock suites to the point that analytical work is becoming the principal means of introducing the chemical characteristics of important rock associations. In Environmental Geology, class research projects are being expanded by work with soils and sediments.