Facilities
A. Scott Warthin Museum of Geology and Natural History
The A. Scott Warthin Museum of Geology & Natural History was commissioned in 1862 at the request of Matthew Vassar. In the years since there have been many exciting additions to the original collection of rocks, minerals and fossils. Opening in Sept. of 2007, there will be a new permanent exhibit of the museum's large and beautiful collection of fluorescent minerals. Read more about the Museum.
Scientific Laboratories
The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Lab is used for the study and identification of minerals and rocks. It houses an automated powder X-ray diffractometer for the study of crystal structures and optical microscopes for grain mount and thin section studies. Sample preparation equipment allows creation of clay mineral mounts , along with saws and polishing surfaces to make thin-sections.
The Paleoclimatology Lab is used by faculty and student researchers interested in unraveling Earth's history of climatic change. Equipment in the lab is devoted primarily to the analysis of lake sediment cores and includes a coulometer and Chittick apparatus to measure carbon and carbonate contents of sediments; a fume hood, centrifuge, and biological microscope to isolate, identify, and count pollen grains and charcoal fragments; analytical balances, hotplates, magnetic stirrers, and drying ovens.
The Clastic Sedimentology Lab is used for scientists wishing to explore the processes and materials present in modern and ancient sedimentary environments. It contains a laser particle counter for the analysis of sediments, and petrographic microscopes for the study of rocks and minerals. It also has apparatus for the study of heavy minerals.
The Geophysics Lab houses field instruments used to image the subsurface of the Earth. Equipment includes a Ground Penetrating Radar system used to identify and map variations in soils and bedrock, a magnetometer to search for buried metal objects, a soil resistivity meter for measuring variations in soil electrical conductivity, a total station for surveying, and a long wavelength seismometer.
The Geographical Informational Systems (GIS) Lab houses an integrated collection of hardware, software and geographic data that is designed to capture, store, update, manipulate, and display geographically referenced information. It contains 13 IBM Intellistation M Pro Computers, loaded with ESRI's ArcGIS software and a full suite of graphic software, printers, scanners and access to a large format color printer. There is also a mobile lab of 10 HP/Compaq Tablet PCs with the ArcGIS software and USB connected GPS receivers.
In addition, all labs have the use of the extensive teaching collection as well as access to the complete museum collection of rocks, minerals, fossils and maps.
Earth Science and Geography
124 Raymond Ave., Box 735, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0735
Office: Ely Hall | Phone: 845-437-5540 | Fax: 845-437-7577 | Contact
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