Basic Chemistry Review part of Hydrogeology:Hydrogeology, Soils, 2013:Activities
Thomas Meixner, The University of Arizona
This assignment reviews basic of chemistry for students who should have had 2 introductory semesters of basic chemistry prior to enrolling in the Fundamental of Water Quality course for which the assignment is ...

Extending Mineralogy by Electron Microprobe Analysis part of Petrology:Teaching Examples
John Goodge, University of Minnesota-Duluth
This lab is designed to be a highly interactive lab session for a petrology course, where instructors provide a minimal level of essential background and then the entire group works together to explore mineral ...

Periodic Table of the Elements Activity part of Activities
Laura Wetzel, Eckerd College
Students work in groups to create the Periodic Table of the Elements in class using cards that they completed as homework. This is meant as a review of the Periodic Table and a direct illustration of how Dmitri ...

Co-evolution of Life and Minerals part of Hydrogeology:Hydrogeology, Soils, 2013:Activities
Penelope Boston, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Based on the 2010 Scientific American paper by Hazen, and the more technical 2008 paper of Hazen et al, both of which explore the effect of the biosphere on the tremendous number of mineral species that occur on ...

Soil Biogeochemical Cycles part of Hydrogeology:Hydrogeology, Soils, 2013:Activities
Colin Robins, Claremont McKenna College
This group activity charges students with teaching their colleagues about the biogeochemical cycle of one key soil element (e.g., either C, N, S, P, Ca, or Fe). Students are given a single class period to summarize ...

Construction of a Simple Conceptual Model part of Hydrogeology:Hydrogeology, Soils, 2013:Activities
Scott Werts, Winthrop University
This homework assignment is designed to give the students practice in developing a simple conceptual model using reservoirs, fluxes, and simple calculations of sediment, carbon and nutrient accumulation in a ...

Crystallization of Magmas part of Activities
John Ayers, Vanderbilt University
Students use three methods to explore the crystallization behavior of a rock of known composition at 1 atmosphere pressure. This laboratory exercise illustrates various approaches used by geochemists and ...

Carbon in the Oceans part of Hydrogeology:Hydrogeology, Soils, 2013:Activities
Amy Townsend-Small, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
In this assignment, students in small groups are asked to interpret and explain a figure depicting one aspect of marine carbon biogeochemistry. Then a representative of each group explains the figure to the class.

Capabilities and Limitations of Geochemical Instruments part of Hydrogeology:Hydrogeology, Soils, 2013:Activities
Carmen Nezat, Eastern Washington University
The purpose of this exercise is to understand the capability and limitations of several instruments (AA, ICP-OES, ICP-MS) used for geochemical analysis. Students compare and contrast the cost, detection limits, ...

Living Learning Community: Spaceship Earth Research Course part of Hydrogeology:Hydrogeology, Soils, 2013:Activities
Penelope Boston, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Freshmen enrolled in the Spaceship Earth Living Learning Community conduct research on a real project that is formulated and conducted during a 2-semester academic year.

Major Element Fractionation During Differentiation part of Petrology:Teaching Examples
, Illinois State University
This problem set introduces some of the more advanced uses of Excel to not only calculate how the chemistry of a magma changes with crystallization but also to see how the liquidus assemblage can drastically change ...

Major Element Control Presentation part of Petrology:Teaching Examples
Kurt Hollocher, Union College (Lincoln, NE)
The presentation is an introduction to the control of magma chemical compositions by the fractionation of crystallizing phases. It is followed by a lab exercise where students interpret volcanic rock petrology and ...

Homework on Volcanic Rock Chemistry and Binary Phase Diagrams part of Petrology:Teaching Examples
Jane Selverstone, University of New Mexico-Main Campus
This homework has 2 main parts: In the first part, students are given bulk compositions for 6 volcanic rocks and asked to classify them, think about their normative compositions, and given likely tectonic settings ...

Origins of Mafic Enclaves in the Dinkey Creek Pluton, Central Sierra Nevada Batholith, California part of Petrology:Teaching Examples
Jade Star Lackey, Pomona College
In this lab exercise, students use and substantial spreadsheet of major, minor and trace element data compiled from studies of the Dinkey Creek pluton (Sierra Nevada batholith) and its microgranular mafic enclaves. ...

Using Dynamic Digital Maps to Teach Petrology part of Petrology:Teaching Examples
Christopher D. Condit
In this session we will examine how to utilize Dynamic Digital Maps (DDMs) in undergraduate petrology courses to bring inaccessible and exciting volcanic field areas to the students in the classroom and to engage ...