Six secondary school teachers describe their most successful earth science investigations. They include various outdoor field activities, road-map reading skills, student-prepared and conducted investigations, and use of several materials for studying volcanoes. (JN)

Provides an overview of obsidian hydration dating for the instructor by presenting: (1) principles of the method; (2) procedures; (3) applications; and (4) limitations. The theory of the method and one or more laboratory exercises can be easily introduced into the undergraduate geology curriculum. (JN)

Students in hydrogeology classes commonly have difficulty appreciating differences between the mechanisms of water release from confined and unconfined aquifers. Describes a simple and inexpensive laboratory model for demonstrating the hydraulic responses of confined and unconfined aquifers to pumping. Includes a worked example to demonstrate the…

Describes an inexpensive means for determining proximate analysis of coal, and by use of this data, its energy content. Pyrite content is also obtained by utilizing magnetic properties of iron. The simple device used makes the experiment suitable for the undergraduate laboratory. (Author/JN)

Crushed glass and a Rhodamine B solution are used in a one-dimensional optically scanned column experiment to study the dispersion phenomenon in porous media. Results indicate that the described model gave satisfactory results and that the dispersion process in this experiment is basically convective. (DC)

Outlines a laboratory procedure which enables students to evaluate the contamination potential of surface impoundments and apply basic principles of hydrogeology to the land disposal of waste material. Includes a list of materials needed and directions for the instructor. (Author/DC)

Presents a classification scheme for identifying sedimentary rocks in introductory geology laboratories. The key consists of an ordered sequence of tests to perform and observations to make which then suggests a rock name or directs the student to additional tests and/or observations. (ML)

Describes an investigation which introduces the mathematical principles of stream hydraulics and fluvial sediment in a practical context. The investigation has four stages: defining hydrology of the stream; defining channel hydraulics in a study reach; measuring grain size; and calculating transportable grain size and comparing measure stream-bed…

Discusses content, laboratory work, and field studies of a senior-level course in paleopedology (study of fossil soils). The course explores interpretation of ancient terrestrial environments from fossil soils and the study of the fossil record of such soils as an additional approach to earth history. (JN)

Describes the infrared analysis of geological specimens which can form the basis of a laboratory exercise, allowing some minerals to be identified by "fingerprint" technique. Students can gain insight into the concept of symmetry and environment around an atom. (Author/SA)

Describes a self-taught optical mineralogy course which uses eleven 40-60 minute color videocassettes. Laboratory exercises, instructional strategies, and development of graphical manipulation and display exercises are considered. Content of each tape is listed. (BC)

Conductiometric titrations can be used to simulate subduction-setting volcanism. Suggestions are made as to the use of this technique in teaching volcanic mechanisms and geochemical indications of tectonic settings. (JN)

Describes a simple, student-oriented method of determining seiches and compares actual to theoretical results. Includes information about equipment needed, data gathering, and analysis of the data. (Author/DS)

Described is the use of cleavage as an aid to microscopic determination of unknown minerals by immersion methods. Cleavages are examined in relation to fragment shapes, types of extinction, and cleavage-optical relationships. (Author/DS)

Describes potentially dangerous classroom situations involving toxic minerals. The intent of the article is to make students aware of the dangers so that they may act responsibly in health-related decisions as professional geologists. (Author/SA)