Five underrepresented undergraduates will be involved in field and laboratory research to determine the origin of three problematic glacial deposits in west-central Minnesota. The studywill employ provenance analysis of soils and tills using field pebble counts, sediment petrography and X-ray diffraction to determine source area. Provenance studies are readily accomplished at the undergraduate level yet remain the fundamantal method of studying glacial deposits in Minnesota. The work will be done in the summer, and at least two of the students will come from other than the grantee institution. It is anticipated that at least four and possibly all of the students will come from minority or handicapped populations
