The Geology Department is purchasing equipment for use in an atomic absorption laboratory. This facility significantly improves the training of students in various geochemistry and hydrogeology courses in the undergraduate curriculum. In courses in hydrology and environmental geochemistry, students learn to use this equipment as part of comprehensive water sampling and analysis projects. Students in mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry courses make use of this instrument in the analysis of rocks and minerals; these analyses complement existing equipment (electron microprobe and x-ray diffractometer). Students in lower-level courses, and in related upper-level courses, benefit from demonstrations and/or supervised use in limited laboratory projects. In addition, this equipment is made available for student research related to independent study and Senior Thesis projects, and is available to students in other departments through cooperation with CMU's interdepartmental Water Studies Center.
