This award provides one-half the funding required to purchase an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) system to be installed and operated in the Department of Geography, Geology, and Planning at Southwest Missouri State University. The University is committed to providing the remaining funds necessary. The XRD system will be used primarily by students and faculty of the Department of Geography, Geology, and Planning, as well as other campus users from the departments of Agriculture, Chemistry and Physics. Currently active projects needing the capability of the XRD system include: analyzing the clay mineralogy of glacial sediments in Missouri for stratigraphic ordering, mineralogical studies of the Proterozoic granites of Missouri, soils studies, and determining the effect of ionic complexes on the crystal structure of clay minerals and their properties.
