WEB RESOURCES FOR TEACHING GEOCHEMICAL INSTRUMENTATION AND ANALYSIS

The Teaching Analytical Geochemistry writing team convened in March 2007 to create a collection of web-based resources to introduce novices (students and geoscientists working "out of field") to the analytical techniques commonly used to characterize geological materials. The goal of this project is to create an online resource that will help users become critical consumers of geochemical data --to understand how data are acquired and presented, to critically evaluate interpretations based on these data, and to have sufficient knowledge to ask the next important question. This site is designed to help users find information about specific geochemical analytical techniques including fundamental principles, descriptions of instruments, typical applications, strengths and limitations, sample collection and preparation, results, data presentation, interpretation, and links to the literature and other on-line resources for users to pursue a deeper understanding of these topics. Members of the writing team developed modules on the following analytical techniques: X ray crystallography (powder and single crystal), electron microbeam (SEM, EPMA, EDS, WDS, CL), elemental analysis (XRF, INAA, ICP-MS), mass spectrometry (TIMS, ICP-MS, SIMS), micro imaging (X ray computed tomography; AFM), surface spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS, AES, XPS), and Mossbauer spectroscopy. Web authoring was done in real-time at a 3-day workshop and subsequent modules were developed by remote-authoring (Steve Dunn, Stable Isotopes; Nelson Eby, INAA; Darby Dyar Mossbauer spectroscopy; Andy Barth, XRF) using the content management system at the Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College. The scientific and pedagogic content of all web pages was internally reviewed by members of the writing team. The model of convening small working groups to create enduring web-based resources, followed by additional remote authoring, revising and reviewing, can be applied to other areas of interest to develop coherent and comprehensive instructional resources in the geosciences. The Teaching Geochemical Instrumentation and Analysis website can be found at: http://serc.carleton.edu/research_education/geochemsheets/index.html. This project was funded by NSF grant EAR 03-06708.