This award will provide for half the funds needed to acquire a computer-based image analysis system to facilitate research of magmatic crystallization processes. Lamar University has committed the additional funds necessary for this acquisition.The PI plans to apply this relatively new approach to an on-going study of the petrology of igneous rocks in the Stillwater Complex. He plans to develop principles and techniques of quantitative petrographic analysis which can be used to analyse and understand process- related and kinetic aspects of a variety of igneous rock types. This RUI award will make it possible to provide undergraduates with valuable and exciting research experience.
