Stable isotopes in natural materials provide a powerful way to study energy flow in many systems and are widely used in fields such as archaeology, ecology, forensics, geochemistry, geology, oceanography, palaeoecology and palaeoclimatology. Based on the manner in which stable isotopes fractionate in natural systems, they allow scientists to…

We present a new laboratory activity for teaching radioactive decay by using hydrodynamic processes as an analog and an evaluation of its efficacy in the classroom. A fluid flowing from an upper beaker into a lower beaker (shampoo in this case) behaves mathematically identically to radioactive decay, mimicking the exponential decay process,…

This paper presents a laboratory exercise used to teach principal components analysis (PCA) as a means of surface zonation. The lab was built around abundance data for 16 oxides and elements collected by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in Gusev Crater between Sol 14 and Sol 470. Students used PCA to reduce 15 of these into 3 components, which,…

Describes an experimental eight-day intensive field trip in the desert of southwestern United States for first and second year geology majors. Eight students and faculty departed from Boston and flew to Phoenix to begin exploring national parks and monuments in Arizona, Utah, and Colorado, Trip cost is itemized and figured at 44.50 per student per…

Discusses the development of a new concept about the nature and origin of earthquakes. The concept is based on the observation that the average dip of deep earthquake foci is 60 degrees. The location of the so-called "Rouse belts" of intense seismic activity is suggested as a student activity. Bibliography. (LC)

Describes an introductory course in geology for nonscience majors that involves students in laboratory exercises related to rock classification. (GS)

Presents a three-part exercise which provides undergraduates with opportunities to work with data related to the earth's magnetic field. Includes student materials for activities in determining the history of the earth's magnetic field, in finding the general pattern of declination, and for looking for a polar reversal history. (ML)

Describes types of meteors and micrometeorites that enter the Earth's atmosphere. Presents an activity where students collect micrometeorites with a strip of tape in an undisturbed outdoor area. After 24 hours, they examine the tape by sandwiching it between 2 glass slides and view through a microscope at 100X. (PR)

Teaching Earth science without exposure to rock outcrops limits students depth of understanding of Earth's processes, limits the concept of scale from their spatial visualization imaging, and distorts their perception of geologic time (Totten 2003). Through a grant funded by the National Science Foundation, an artificial rock outcrop was…

Describes a method of utilizing Silly Putty for making fossil impressions. (SL)

Describes a geology laboratory exercise involving weathering and topographic maps which allows students to put knowledge to practical application. (SL)