Use of XRF Spectrometry to Enhance an Integrated Geochemistry Component of the Undergraduate Geology Curriculum

我们申请资助一台波长色散X射线光谱仪(WDXRF)，我们的学生将从该光谱仪获得全岩化学分析，用于基于课程的和独立的研究项目。我们建议在地质学专业早期建立一个综合的地球化学学习经验，以便使用分析仪器解决地球化学问题所获得的技能可以应用于更高级别的子学科和独立的研究问题。这个项目将集中于我们的必修课，岩石学和地球系统化学，这些课程与矿物学和台阶化学一起构成了该专业二年级学习的核心。岩石学正处于被我们最新的教员吉恩·约戈津斯基彻底改革为基于探究的格式的早期阶段。这种形式包括精心构思和控制的课堂研究项目，这些项目有助于理解岩石和矿物组合研究的基本地球化学原理。最近在《地球系统化学》课程中引入的这种方法，已被证明是学生将化学原理应用于地质问题和教师教授研究方法的一种可行的方法。收购WDXRF将使我们的专业能够更好地量化火成岩、变质和沉积过程，通过我们提出的综合学习体验来“追踪”各种主要、次要和微量元素的命运。在我们课程的顶峰阶段，这是一个必需的独立研究项目，学生对全岩化学数据的更大需求在很大程度上没有得到满足。我们将描述一些将受益于内部XRF光谱仪的项目。我们预计XRF在未来的学生自主研究项目中会有更大的用途。总体而言，我们正在努力在实地研究和仪器分析之间取得平衡。WDXRF是链中缺失的一环，它为学生提供准确和精确的全岩化学数据，以便他们可以更全面地理解他们在野外如此勤奋地观察到的岩石组合。

Funding is requested for a Wave-length Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (WDXRF) from which our students will obtain whole-rock chemical analyses for course-based and independent research projects. We propose to develop an integrated geochemical learning experience early in the geology major so that skills acquired in geochemical problem solving using analytical instrumentation-can be applied to upper level subdisciplines and independent research problems. This project will focus on our required courses, Petrology and Chemistry of Earth Systems, which with Mineralogy and Bench Chemistry form the nucleus of the sophomore-year studies in the major. Petrology is in the early stages of being completely reformed into an inquiry-based format by our newest faculty member, Gene Yogodzinski. This format includes well conceived and controlled class research projects which aid in the understanding of geochemical principles fundamental to the study of rock and mineral associations. This approach, recently introduced in the Chemistry of Earth Systems course, has proven to be a viable means for students to apply chemical principles to geologic problems and for faculty to teach research methodologies. The acquisition of a WDXRF will allow our majors to better quantify igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary processes by "tracing the fate" of various major, minor, and trace elements through the integrated learning experience we propose. In the capstone of our curriculum, a required independent research project, greater student demand for whole rock chemical data has been largely unmet. We will describe some of the projects that would have benefited from an in-house XRF spectrometer. We foresee even greater use for an XRF in student independent research projects in the future. Overall, we are striving for a balance between field study and instrumental analysis. An WDXRF is the missing link in the chain to provide students with accurate and precise whole rock chemical data in order that they may more fully understa nd the rock associations they observe so diligently in the field.