SOIL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF LOCAL CREEK AT DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S MARPLE CAMPUS, UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECT

The intent of this project was to learn and put into practice the collection of soil samples in the region surrounding the stream running through Delaware County Community College Marple Campus. Several geological tools and practices were used in this study. Soil samples from the stream were collected and analyzed to determine composition and particle sizes. Elevation data along the stream were collected and mapped in ArcGIS. Early undergraduate students were able to use field tools, laboratory equipment, and GIS software to investigate the stream environment to better understand geological processes.

Sediment samples were collected from four locations along the local creek. Soil samples were sieved for particle size analysis, and composition was determined through a series of loss-on-ignition burns at sequential temperatures.

The process of using field tools and collecting data was a valuable experience for our undergraduate students. Students found that the soil around the stream is variable in composition, but all samples had a relatively low organic matter content. It was found that flat or gentle-sloping areas contained higher water content than those with in steeper slopes, such as the cutbanks. Furthermore, the particle size analysis suggests that the soil in and around the stream is a relatively fine-grained mixture of carbonate and other minerals. The data were then plotted in ArcMap and ArcScene and presented at a college-wide poster session.