Peter Berquist

Help a geochronologist part of Geoscience in Two-year Colleges:Activities
This is an exercise in calculating absolute ages of zircon crystals based on raw data collected by a SHRIMP (Sensitive High-resolution Ion Micro-probe). The assignment has been used as a hands-on extension of studying methods of absolute dating in lecture and laboratory sections of Historical Geology. Students are presented with a corrupt data sheet that has lost all age calculations but retains the observed ratios of several parent-daughter isotopes. The students use the raw isotopic ratios in Excel to re-calculate ages for several zircon analyses from one of four rock samples. Accompanying questions to this activity require students to manipulate data into more accurate and meaningful formats; create and interpret graphs of calculated ages for each sample; and speculate on sources of error, protolith, and overall meaningfulness of data.

Action Plan: Pete Berquist part of Geoscience in Two-year Colleges:Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education in Two-Year Colleges:Workforce Development:GSA 2012 Preparing Workforce and Transfer Students in 2YC:Participant Workspace:Action Plans
Institution: Thomas Nelson Community College What is the issue you plan to address? I would like to explore the possibility of developing a technical program/certification at my institution. The goal of this ...