REU Site: Investigating the structure and origin of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa, using complementary geochemical and geophysical studies

这个本科生研究经验（REU）网站的首要目标是促进本科生，特别是代表性不足的少数民族，在国际，多学科，地球科学研究项目的参与。每年夏天，一批6-8名本科生将前往南非参加布什维尔德火成岩综合体的实地研究。在宾夕法尼亚州立大学和威特沃特斯兰德大学教师的监督下，学生们将在为期三周的实地考察中收集地球物理数据和岩石样本。原始数据和样本将被带回宾夕法尼亚州立大学进行处理和分析。地球科学素养的原则将在整个10周REU网站计划的方向，实地工作，分析和综合阶段得到加强。该计划对学生追求地球科学或另一个STEM领域的职业生涯的态度的影响将通过一系列的调查进行评估之前，期间和之后参加暑期课程。布什维尔德复杂（~2.06 Ga）是大陆地壳中发现的最大的侵入性镁铁质火成岩体之一，但其起源和深度结构知之甚少。该项目的科学目标是确定布什维尔德复合体（BC）的总体积和面积范围。据信BC的大小至少为50万立方公里，可能高达100万立方公里，与世界上最大的火成岩复合体相当。大火成岩省（LIPS）的研究提供了重要的洞察地壳是如何形成的，大陆陆块是如何稳定和分裂的，也许是地质历史上某些大规模灭绝事件的原因。在REU现场的三年中，参与学生将收集和解释数据，以更好地描述BC中心部分与一些外围火成岩侵入体之间的连续性（或缺乏连续性）。收集的数据将包括地震和重力测量，以及矿物分离物和整个岩石的主要元素、微量元素和同位素比率数据。该奖项得到了国际和综合活动办公室的共同资助。

The over-arching goal of this Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site is to promote participation of undergraduate students, particularly under-represented minorities, in an international, multi-disciplinary, geosciences research project. A cohort of 6-8 undergraduates will travel to South Africa each summer to participate in a field study of the Bushveld Igneous Complex. Under the supervision of faculty from the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Witwatersrand, students will collect geophysical data and rock samples during the three-week field campaign. The raw data and samples will be brought back to Penn State for processing and analysis. Principles of Earth Science Literacy will be reinforced throughout the orientation, field work, analysis, and synthesis stages of the 10-week REU Site program. The impact of the program on the students' attitudes toward pursuing a career in the geosciences or another STEM field will be assessed through a series of surveys administered before, during, and after participating in the summer program.The Bushveld Complex (~2.06 Ga) is one of the largest intrusive mafic igneous bodies found in the continental crust, yet its origin and structure at depth are poorly understood. The scientific goal of this project is to determine the total volumetric and areal extent of the Bushveld Complex (BC). The BC is believed to be at least 500,000 cubic kilometers in size, and may be as large as 1,000,000 cubic kilometers, putting it on par with the largest igneous complexes in the world. The study of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPS) provides important insight into how the Earth's crust was formed, how continental landmasses are stabilized and broken apart, and perhaps into the cause of certain mass extinction events in geologic history. Over the three years of the REU Site, data will be collected and interpreted by participating students in order to better delineate the continuity (or lack thereof) between the central part of the BC and a number of outlying igneous intrusions. The data to be collected will include seismic and gravity measurements, as well as major element, trace element, and isotope ratio data for mineral separates and whole rocks. This award was supported with co-funding from the Office of International and Integrative Activities.