1. Evaluating Sands using Remotely-Operated Scanning Electron Microscope
Mary Beck (Valencia College, Orlando FL,
Christopher Vidito (Florida Center for Analytical Electron Microscopy, Florida International University, Miami FL,
Jeffrey Ryan (University of South Florida, Tampa FL,
Rosemary Hickey-Vargas (Florida International University, Miami FL,
James MacDonald (Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers FL,
MSI-REaCH

2. NSF TUES 2 Project: Expanding the Use of Online Remote Electron Microscopy in the Classroom to Transform Undergraduate Geoscience Education
Valencia College Project:
2-year college
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)
Non-majors, non-lab introductory earth science class
Class enrollment cap of 24 students
Meets 1x/week for 2.75 hours
Focus on sands

3. Week 1: Students collected campus sands. (http://gigapan
Valencia College sand: hand lens and reflective scope
Weeks 5 & 6 (rocks/minerals and weathering)
15 sands: reflective scope and EDS/provenance
Weeks 7 & 8 (geologic time and mass movement)
15 sands: SEM/depositional environment
Weeks 12 & 13 (weather and climate)
ODP samples: SEM/ice-rafting mechanism
Week 14 (climate)
Valencia College sand: SEM/depositional environment

4. Weeks 5 and 6 Students look at sands under reflective scopes.
Links to Gigapan macro images of sands:
VC-1:
VC-2:
VC-3:
VC-4:
VC-5:
VC-7:
VC-8:
VC-9:
VC-10:
VC-11:
VC-12:
VC-13:
VC-14:
VC-15:
Sands and Sediments Questions, Part 1
Students answer questions on 15 sands.

5. Mineral Kit
Rock Kit

6. Weeks 5 and 6: Analyze composition using EDS.
Spectrum image: Chris Vidito, FCAEM
EDS Report
Students report on EDS work.

7. Weeks 7 and 8:
Students use Vos et al., 2014 and quartz sand texture descriptors to determine likely environment of sand deposition.
Vos Quartz Sand Surface Textures Tally
Students report on SEM work.
Sands and Sediments Questions, Part 2
Students report investigation results.

8. Weeks 12 and 13: Students use SEM and quartz texture micro images (St
Weeks 12 and 13: Students use SEM and quartz texture micro images (St. John, et al., 2015) to distinguish between IRD (iceberg-rafted debris) and SIRD (sea ice-rafted debris).
ODP Quartz Grain Microfeatures Tally Sheet and Histograms

9. Week 14: Revisit Valencia College Sand.

10. Acknowledgements References
Kristen St. John and MSI REaCH (Reconstructing Earth’s Climate History)
Robin Rohrback at Northern Virginia Community College
References
St. John, K., Passchier, S., Tantillo, B., Darby, D., and Kearns, L., 2015, Microfeatures of modern sea-ice-rafted sediment and implications for paleo-sea-ice reconstructions. Annals of Glaciology, v. 56, no. 69, p
Vos, K., Vandenberghe, N., and Elsena, J., 2014, Surface textural analysis of quartz grains by scanning electron microscopy (SEM): From sample preparation to environmental interpretation. Earth-Science Reviews, v. 128, p. 93–104.