Facilities

GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT FACILITIES

The Department of Geology occupies space in Palmer Hall, built in 1901-1904, and the Russell T. Tutt Science Center, built in 2003. The department is home to an elaborate collection of state-of-the-art instrumentation for undergraduate student-faculty research. In addition, we consider the local geology to be our most important facility (along with the fleet of college vehicles that make it accessible to our classes). 

 

INSTRUMENTATION AND EQUIPMENT

  • Rock, Mineral, and Fossil Collections
  • Mineral Separation
    • rock crushing equipment
    • water table - JCR Zircon Separating Table Model 3 (2022)
    • heavy liquids - MEI
    • magnetic susceptibility separator - S.G. Frantz Model LB-1 with Model LFC-3 Low-Field Control (2023) 
  • Chemical Analysis
    • XRF - PANalytical Epsilon 4 (2022)
    • XRF - Bruker Tracer 5 (2023) shared with Chemistry
    • rock powdering equipment
    • XRF bead-making furnaces - Neoflux
    • XRD - PANalytical X'Pert PRO (2011) shared with Chemistry
  • Geophysical Measurements
    • Resistivity meter: IRIS Syscal Junior switch-48 with 24 electrodes
    • Magnetometer: GEM GSM-19GW Overhauser Gradiometer
    • Seismograph: Geometrics 12-channel Geode with 40 Hz vertical geophones
    • Gravimeter: TI Worden
  • Microscopy
    • SEM with EDS - JEOL 
    • Research petrographic microscopes, including both transmitted and reflected light scopes, a cathode-luminescence scope, and a fluid inclusions stage for analysis of rock thin sections
  • Field Survey & Mapping
    • Sedimentology/geomorphology lab equipped for physical and chemical analysis of sediments and soils
    • 2 Electronic total stations for high-precision field surveying and mapping
    • Field measurement and coring equipment for analysis and sampling of sediments and soils
  • Access to the GIS Lab and UAV/Drone Collection
  • Access to instrumentation housed in the Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Biology, and Physics Departments
  • Journals and Maps
    • Colorado College's Tutt Library and the William A. Fisher Geology Seminar Room house a good collection of geology journals. The library is a depository of U.S. Geological Survey publications and maps. Rapid inter-library loan service drawing on nearby facilities at the Air Force Academy, U.S.G.S., and the University of Colorado augment these holdings.
    • An additional resource is the expertise at the U.S.G.S. and at numerous gas, oil, mining, and related industries located in Denver.
Report an issue - Last updated: 04/10/2023